Three Sentenced to Death in India for Gang Rape of Israeli Tourist, Murder Near Hampi

A sessions court in Karnataka’s Koppal district has sentenced three men to death after convicting them in the gang rape of two women, including an Israeli tourist, and the murder of a male tourist near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi last year.

The convicts – identified as Mallesh alias Handimalla, Sai and Sharanappa – were awarded capital punishment by the Gangavathi District and Sessions Court after being found guilty of rape and murder in connection with the March 6, 2025, incident that had triggered nationwide outrage and raised concerns over tourist safety.

According to the police, the crime took place near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal in Sanapura, located close to Hampi, a popular international tourist destination in Karnataka. On the night of the incident, a group of five tourists – comprising a 27-year-old Israeli woman, a 29-year-old homestay operator, and three male companions from the United States, Odisha and Maharashtra – had stepped out after dinner for stargazing near Sanapur Lake.

The group was seated along the canal bank when three men arrived on a motorcycle. Initially, the assailants reportedly asked for directions to a petrol pump before demanding money from the tourists. When the group refused, the situation escalated into violence.

Police said the attackers assaulted the victims and pushed the three male tourists into the canal. While two of them managed to swim to safety, the third – a tourist from Odisha – drowned in the water. His body was recovered the following morning.

Amid the chaos, two of the accused allegedly raped the homestay operator, while another dragged the Israeli tourist away and sexually assaulted her. The assailants also robbed the group of their mobile phones and cash before fleeing the scene.

Two of the male survivors were later hospitalised with injuries sustained during the attack.

The brutality of the crime, particularly involving a foreign national at a major heritage site, drew widespread condemnation from political leaders and civil society groups. It also prompted renewed scrutiny of safety measures for visitors in popular tourist destinations across India.

Police launched an intensive manhunt following the attack and arrested the accused within days. After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court held the trio guilty earlier this month.

While pronouncing the sentence on Feb 16, the judge observed that the nature of the crime placed it in the “rarest of rare” category, warranting the maximum punishment under Indian law.

The death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Karnataka High Court and may be appealed by the convicts in higher courts.

The verdict comes nearly eleven months after the incident that shocked the nation and underscored the vulnerability of travellers in remote tourist locations.