Two arrested after tourist, resort operator raped in Gangavathi; body of missing tourist found

KOPPAL: Two people have been arrested for raping an Israeli tourist and a resort operator near the Tungabhadra left bank canal (TLBC) close to the Sanapur lake in Gangavathi taluk, on Saturday. Meanwhile, the body of another domestic tourist, who was missing since the night of March 6, was found in the TLBC near Mallapur in Gangavathi taluk around 10 am on Saturday.

The arrested are Mallesh a.k.a Handi Malla (22) and Chetan Sai Sillekyatar (21) and the Gangavathi Rural police are on the lookout for one more accused. The body of Bibas (33), a tourist from Odisha, was fished out from the canal on Saturday. Bibas was missing after he and two other tourists were attacked with stones and pushed into the canal by Mallesh, Chetan and another youth during an argument.

The body of Bibas was found on Saturday morning.

The victims were subjected medicals tests on Friday after they lodged complaints. A case was registered at Gangavathi Rural police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for extortion, robbery/dacoity with intent to cause death or grievous hurt, gangrape and attempted murder.

Around 11 pm on Thursday night, a group of four people including the woman Israeli tourist, the woman resort operator from Anegondi, Daniel, an American tourist, Pankaj Patil, a tourist from Nashik in Maharashtra, and Bibash from Odisha headed out to the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal near Durgamma Gudi on two-wheelers where they were stargazing and playing music on a guitar, Police Superintendent Ram L Arasiddi said.

Firemen searching for Bibas on Friday.

At that time, three youths, who came on a motorcycle, approached them and wanted to know where they could get petrol and also demanded Rs 100. When Bibash gave then Rs 20, the youths picked an argument. The trio then attacked Bibash, Pankaj and Daniel with stones, pushed them into the water and later raped the two women. While Daniel managed to save Pankaj, Bibash was washed away and his body was found on Saturday, the SP said.

Koppal Police Superintendent Ram L Arasiddi said, “We have formed six teams and nabbed two of the accused, allesh a.k.a Handi Malla (22) and Chetan Sai Sillekyatar (21), both of Sai Nagar in Gangavathi. One of them was arrested from Hosapete and the other from Koppal. They admitted to the crime and have revealed the name of the third person involved in the rape and we will arrest him too soon. All the victims are being treated at the local hospital”.