Two Arrested in Connection with Gang Rape of Israeli Tourist and Host, and Murder in Southern India

Police officers at the scene where three men are accused of gang-raping two women, in Koppal district of southern state of Karnataka, India, on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Police in southern India reported the arrest of two men on Saturday in connection with allegations of gang rape involving an Israeli and a local woman. The incident occurred in Koppal town, Karnataka state, on Thursday night.

The Israeli woman and her homestay operator were stargazing with three male travelers—an American and two Indians—when three men on a motorbike approached them demanding money. Following an altercation, the assailants pushed the male travelers into a nearby water canal and sexually assaulted the women. One of the Indian tourists drowned, and his body was recovered on Saturday, while the American and the other Indian managed to escape.

Koppal is located approximately 350 kilometers from Bengaluru. Authorities established a special investigation team, which successfully apprehended two of the three suspects on Saturday. The suspects are under investigation for attempted murder, gang rape, and robbery.

Police search for the male travelers who were pushed into the canal

Sexual assaults on women remain a major concern in India. In 2022, police recorded 31,516 rape cases, a 20% increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. However, the actual figures are believed to be much higher due to the stigma surrounding sexual violence and victims’ reluctance to report incidents.

The issue of sexual violence gained global attention after the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi. The case led to nationwide protests, prompting legal reforms, the establishment of fast-track courts for rape cases, and stricter penalties. The 2013 amendments to rape laws introduced criminalization of stalking and voyeurism, while also reducing the minimum age for adult prosecution from 18 to 16. In 2018, the government approved the death penalty for those convicted of raping children under the age of 12.

Despite these legal measures, brutal sexual assaults continue to be reported frequently. Cases involving foreign visitors have further highlighted the issue. Recent incidents include reports from a Spanish tourist whose wife was allegedly raped in northern India and an Indian-American woman who reported an assault in a New Delhi hotel. In 2022, a British tourist was raped in front of her partner in Goa, drawing significant international attention.