A horrific attack has shocked India and the world, as a Western tourist and her female travel companion were allegedly gang-raped while stargazing in southern Karnataka state.
The terrifying assault, which also led to the death of their male companion, took place on Thursday evening near a canal in Koppal town.
The two women were part of a group that had set out for a peaceful stargazing excursion but found themselves victims of a brutal attack.
The Attack Unfolds
The incident began when the female host took the group, including an Israeli woman, two Indian men, and an American man, to the canal area for stargazing.
The group was approached by three suspects on a motorbike, who initially demanded money. Tensions esca
lated into a violent confrontation, with the attackers throwing the three men into the canal.
Tragically, one of the men, an Indian tourist, drowned, and his body was recovered on Saturday. The other two men managed to swim to safety.
The Women Endure a Horrific Ordeal
After the men were thrown into the water, the attackers turned their focus to the two women.
They were beaten and sexually assaulted before the assailants fled the scene.
Authorities have since formed a special investigation team, and two of the suspects have been arrested on charges of attempted murder, gang rape, and robbery. The third suspect remains at large, and the case continues to shock the nation.
Shock and Outrage in Karnataka
The assault has sparked widespread outrage, with Karnataka state President B.Y. Vijayendra condemning the authorities as “delusional and indifferent.”
He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of tourists, vowing that measures would be taken to prevent such attacks in the future. The brutal attack has placed a renewed focus on the rising problem of sexual violence in India.
Rising Sexual Violence in India
Sexual assaults on women have become an increasingly serious issue in India, with the National Crime Records Bureau reporting over 31,000 cases of rape in 2022 alone—marking a disturbing 20% increase from the previous year.
Many believe the true number of incidents is even higher, as victim
s often face social stigma that prevents them from reporting their assaults. This tragic incident highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing sexual violence in the country.
A Dark History of High-Profile Cases
India’s history of sexual violence has been under intense scrutiny, especially following the brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus in 2012.
The case sparked massive protests across the country and led to the creation of fast-track courts for rape cases and harsher legal penalties.
In 2013, laws were amended to criminalize stalking and voyeurism, and to lower the age at which someone could be tried as an adult.
In 2018, the government approved the use of the death penalty for those convicted of raping children under 12 years old.
International Attention on Tourist Assaults
The issue of sexual violence against tourists in India has garnered international attention.
High-profile cases involving foreign visitors continue to draw global concern.
In 2022, a British tourist was raped in Goa in front of her partner. Other cases have been reported involving tourists from Spain and the United States.
These incidents have raised questions about the safety of visitors in the country and the effectiveness of measures to protect them.