Bengaluru, Feb 16 (NationPress) In a significant ruling, the First Additional District and Sessions Court in Gangavati, located in Karnataka's Koppal district, pronounced the death penalty on three individuals linked to the gang-rape of an Israeli tourist and an Indian woman, alongside the murder of a male tourist near Sanapura Lake last year, near the Unesco World Heritage Site of Hampi.

Judge Sadananda Nagappa Nayaka delivered the verdict, confirming capital punishment for the three defendants: Mallesh (also known as Handi Mallesh), Sai, and Sharanappa. The court had previously declared them guilty and reserved the sentencing decision for this week.

The court classified the crime as falling within the "rarest of rare" category, warranting the death sentence for all three convicts.

This ruling is regarded as pivotal, as it was issued less than a year following the incident.

The case pertains to an event that occurred on March 6, 2025, near Sanapura Lake and the Tungabhadra Canal, under the jurisdiction of the Gangavati Rural Police Station.

The horrific nature of the crime garnered national attention, resulting in a notable decrease in foreign tourist visits to the nearby Unesco World Heritage Site of Hampi and other popular attractions like Anjanadri and Sanapura Lake.

After the incident, the victims, clearly traumatized, promptly reported the crime to the police.

Public Prosecutor Nagalaxmi recounted during the trial: "An Indian woman who managed a homestay had taken a group of guests — Pankaj from Maharashtra, Bibas from Odisha, an American named Daniel, and an Israeli woman — for stargazing by the Tungabhadra Canal around 10:30 p.m."

The three convicted men arrived on a motorcycle, instigating a quarrel over money with the tourist group. In a horrific turn of events, they attempted to sexually assault the women, allegedly throwing the three male tourists into the canal and hurling stones to prevent their escape.

The prosecution described how two of the men then sexually assaulted the Indian homestay owner, followed by the rape of the Israeli tourist. Tragically, one male tourist was killed due to his inability to escape from the canal.

Following the incident, the Gangavati Rural Police initiated an investigation, leading to the apprehension of Handi Mallesh and the other two accused. A chargesheet was subsequently filed in court.

The Karnataka BJP voiced strong criticism against the Congress-led government, claiming that rampant lawlessness in the state has resulted in incidents like the gang-rape of an Israeli tourist at the globally acclaimed tourist hub of Hampi.

“There is now a permanent stain on Hampi as a tourist destination. It will take nearly a decade to restore the confidence of foreign travelers in the state's law and order,” Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka remarked.

Reflecting on the incident, Ashoka recounted: "The gang-rape of an Israeli female tourist in Hampi occurred on March 6 last year. She was part of a group of five tourists enjoying music and moonlight by the Tungabhadra River. Three accused individuals assaulted one of the tourists from Odisha, inflicting a head injury. They pushed him into the river, and due to his injury, he could not swim back. The other two tourists, despite being thrown into the river, managed to escape. Later, the Israeli woman and an Indian homestay owner were sexually assaulted."

Ashoka criticized the Congress government for attributing blame to homestays rather than addressing the pressing law and order issues.