Two men have been arrested in India in connection with the alleged rape of an Israeli woman and a local woman. The incident occurred in Koppal town in southern Karnataka state when the Israeli woman and her homestay operator were stargazing with three male travelers. Three men on a motorbike approached them and asked for money. After an argument, the men pushed the male travelers into a nearby canal and sexually assaulted the two women.
According to Ram L Arasiddi, a local police official, one of the travelers drowned and his body was recovered on Saturday. The other two men managed to swim to safety. Koppal is approximately 217 miles (350 kilometers) from Bengaluru. Police have set up a special investigation team and arrested two suspects on Saturday. They are being investigated for attempted murder, gang-rape, and robbery.
Sexual assaults on women have been a prominent issue in India, with 31,516 rape cases reported in 2022, representing a 20% increase from the previous year. The real figure is believed to be much higher due to the stigma surrounding sexual violence and victims’ lack of faith in the police.
Rape and sexual violence have been in the spotlight since the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old student on a Delhi bus, which sparked widespread protests and led to the establishment of fast-track courts and stiffer penalties for rape cases. In 2013, the rape law was amended to criminalize stalking and voyeurism and lower the age for trying individuals as adults. The government approved the death penalty in 2018 for individuals convicted of raping children under the age of 12.
High-profile cases involving foreign visitors have drawn international attention to the issue. Recently, a Spanish tourist claimed that his wife had been raped in northern India, an Indian-American woman claimed she was raped at a hotel in Delhi, and a British tourist was raped in Goa in 2022.
Support and information for individuals affected by rape or sexual abuse can be obtained from various organizations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, RAINN offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, 1800Respect provides support on 1800 737 732. International helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/08/two-men-arrested-in-india-over-alleged-of-israeli-and-local-woman
