An Israeli tourist and her travel host were gang-raped while stargazing in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, police have confirmed.
The brutal attack also resulted in the death of one of their male friends, who was thrown into a canal alongside two other men by the assailants.
According to authorities, the group was approached by three men on a motorbike who initially demanded money before launching the attack.
Two suspects have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, gang rape, and robbery.
The victims — an Israeli woman and her homestay operator — had been stargazing with three male travellers: an American and two Indians when the confrontation occurred.
An argument reportedly broke out before the attackers pushed the men into a canal and assaulted the women.
Incidents of sexual violence have been escalating in India, with 31,516 rape cases reported in 2022 — a 20% increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
However, experts believe the true figures are likely far higher due to stigma and victims’ lack of faith in police.
The issue gained global attention following the horrific 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a New Delhi bus, which sparked widespread protests.
In response, authorities introduced fast-track courts for rape cases and strengthened penalties. The rape law was revised in 2013, criminalizing stalking and voyeurism while lowering the age at which offenders can be tried as adults from 18 to 16.
In 2018, the Indian government approved the death penalty for those convicted of raping children under age 12.
Despite these measures, brutal sexual assaults continue to make headlines.
Last year, a Spanish tourist claimed in a video that his wife was raped in northern India, while an Indian-American woman reported being assaulted at a New Delhi hotel.
In 2022, a British tourist was raped in front of her partner while visiting Goa.
