‘Rarest of rare’: Court sentences 3 to death in Hampi gangrape, murder
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Koppal: A sessions court in Karnataka’s Koppal district on Monday sentenced three men to death after convicting them in the gang rape of two women, including an Israeli national, and the murder of a male tourist in a case that had triggered nationwide outrage, NDTV reported.
The Gangavathi District and Sessions Court awarded capital punishment to the three convicts — Mallesh alias Handimalla, Sai and Sharanappa — after finding them guilty of rape and murder in connection with the March 2025 incident.
The crime occured on the night of March 6, 2025, near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal in Sanapura village, located close to Hampi. According to the prosecution, the accused approached a group comprising two women — an Israeli tourist and a homestay operator — and three male tourists, and allegedly demanded money from them.
When the group refused, the three men reportedly attacked them, pushing the male tourists into the canal before sexually assaulting the two women. While two of the men managed to swim to safety, a tourist from Odisha drowned in the canal.
The incident had sent shockwaves across the country, drawing widespread condemnation and renewed concerns over tourist safety.
Pronouncing the sentence, the court observed that the crime fell within the “rarest of rare” category, warranting the maximum punishment under the law.
