Bengaluru, India – As the world observed International Women’s Day, a shocking case of sexual violence unfolded in southern India’s Koppal town. A 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old Indian woman, who owns a guesthouse, were gang-raped by a group of assailants who also attacked three men accompanying them, police reported on Saturday.
“The attackers assaulted five people—three men and two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old Indian woman,” said Koppal police superintendent Ram L. Arasiddi. The assault occurred during the night between Thursday and Friday. Both women were also physically assaulted and sexually abused.
Authorities have arrested two suspects and are questioning them regarding their involvement in the brutal attack. According to Indian broadcaster NDTV, the victims—two Indian men, an American tourist, and the two women—were stargazing when they were ambushed.
The attack happened approximately 50 km from Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Karnataka’s top tourist attractions, and about 350 km from Bengaluru, India’s tech hub.
Sexual assaults on foreign women visiting India remain a major concern, with legal proceedings often slow-moving. According to India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), between 2018 and 2022, only one in 25 rape cases involving foreign victims resulted in a conviction.
In March last year, a Spanish-Brazilian tourist was raped in Jharkhand while camping with her husband, who was severely beaten by the attackers. Recently, an Indian court sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a 28-year-old British-Irish tourist in a popular beach area in western India.
In the latest incident, the three male victims were beaten and thrown into a nearby canal. “They were attacked and dumped in the canal. Two of them managed to swim to safety, but the body of the third victim was recovered today,” said Superintendent Arasiddi.
Sexual violence remains a pressing issue in India, with activists and citizens calling for stronger measures to protect women. In 2022 alone, 31,500 cases of rape were reported, averaging 86 per day or nearly four women every hour.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as pressure mounts on law enforcement to ensure justice for the victims.
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