An Indian court has sentenced three men to death after they were found guilty of raping two women and killing a man in an attack on a group of tourists near the southern city of Hampi.
The Gangavati First Additional District Court handed down the verdict on February 6, and Justice Sadananda Nagappa Naik officially announced the sentence on February 16 after completing the necessary legal formalities.
Details of the crime
The crime occurred in March 2025 near Sanapur Lake, about four miles from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi. A group of tourists, including visitors from the US, Odisha and Maharashtra, a 27-year-old Israeli woman and a 29-year-old guesthouse owner, were enjoying stargazing with a local guide on the banks of the Tungabhadra canal.
According to the facts of the case, the three accused attacked the group and forced the men into the water, one of whom subsequently drowned. After the two women were also gang-sexually assaulted, the perpetrators began stealing the victims’ belongings.
one of the rarest crimes
Indian public prosecutors considered the case to fall under the category of “the rarest of rare crimes” because it involved violent murder, rape, and robbery.
Before handing down the sentence, the court requested a detailed report on the inmate’s psychological state, behavior in prison, and social background.
The convicts were charged with multiple offenses under India’s new Penal Code, including murder, attempt to murder, gang rape, grievous bodily harm, and theft. In India, the penalty for murder is death, while the penalty for gang rape can reach 20 years in prison and for other crimes up to 10 years in prison.
Impact on tourism and security enforcement
The incident shocked far and wide, leading to a noticeable drop in foreign tourists visiting Hampi, with the Karnataka government tightening security measures in the region, with local police announcing increased patrolling and increased surveillance at tourist spots, stressing that Hampi remains a safe destination for domestic and international tourists.
Hampi is one of India’s most famous tourist destinations due to its ancient historical and architectural heritage, which is why the crime attracted widespread national and international attention.
An Indian court has sentenced three men to death after they were found guilty of raping two women and killing a man in an attack on a group of tourists near the southern city of Hampi.
The First Additional District Court of Gangavati handed down the judgment on February 6 and Justice Sadananda Nagappa Naik officially announced the judgment on February 16 after completing the necessary legal formalities.
Details of the crime
The crime occurred in March 2025 near Sanapur Lake, about four miles from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi. A 27-year-old Israeli woman and a 29-year-old guesthouse owner were enjoying stargazing with a local guide on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, along with a group of tourists, including visitors from the United States and the Indian states of Orissa and Maharashtra.
According to the facts of the case, the three accused attacked the group and pushed the men into the water, where one of them later drowned. After the two women were sexually assaulted, the perpetrators stole the victims’ belongings.
one of the rarest crimes
Indian prosecutors deemed the case to be “one of the rarest crimes” because it combined murder, rape and violent theft in one case.
Before handing down the sentence, the court asked for a detailed report on the psychological state of those convicted, their behavior in prison, and their social background.
The convicts faced multiple charges under India’s new Penal Code, including murder, attempt to murder, gang rape, causing grievous harm and theft. In India, the penalty for murder can be the death penalty, while the penalty for gang rape can reach up to 20 years in prison, and an additional 10 years for the remaining crimes.
Implications for tourism and security enhancement
The incident shocked far and wide, leading to a noticeable drop in foreign tourists visiting Hampi and prompting the Karnataka government to tighten security measures in the region. The local police announced that they will intensify patrolling and increase surveillance at tourist spots to ensure that Hampi remains a safe destination for domestic and international tourists.
Hampi is considered as one of India’s tourist destinations due to its rich historical and architectural heritage and hence the crime has attracted a lot of national and international attention.
