KOPPAL: Four days after the brutal assault near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi, a 27-year-old Israeli tourist—one of the two rape survivors—returned to her home country on Monday. The attack took place on Thursday night near the Tungabhadra canal in Sanapur while she was stargazing with a homestay owner, a US tourist, and two Indian tourists.
Increased Security Measures
Koppal police have arrested all three suspects and intensified security in the area. The Israeli woman, still “deeply shaken,” was escorted to Bengaluru by local police before her departure.
Tourists Flee the Region
The incident has sparked panic among both domestic and international visitors, leading to a surge in cancellations. The Karnataka Tourist Guides’ Association reported that Hampi and its surroundings typically receive over a lakh foreign tourists annually. However, in the wake of the assault, nearly 50% of visitors—many of them Israelis—have vacated homestays and left the region. Those who remain have been advised to travel in groups and avoid venturing out alone, particularly at night.
Authorities Step Up Vigilance
In an effort to restore confidence among tourists, authorities have ramped up security measures. Police have intensified night patrols, set up barricades for vehicle checks, and mandated that homestay and resort owners install CCTV cameras.
Koppal Superintendent of Police, Ram L. Arasiddi, stated that highway patrol vehicles have been doubled, and an inspector-level officer has been assigned to conduct night rounds in Anegundi and Sanapur.
“We held meetings with all homestay and resort owners on Sunday, instructing them to install CCTV cameras on their premises,” Arasiddi said.
(The victim’s identity has been withheld in accordance with Supreme Court directives on sexual assault cases.)
