JHARSUGUDA : A 26-year-old Odisha man was found dead in a canal in Karnataka’s Koppal district after he and two others were allegedly forced into the water by three assailants who raped an Israeli tourist and a local homestay owner.
The deceased, identified as Bibash from Puri, was among three men who attempted to intervene during the sexual assault on Thursday night. While his companions – Daniel from the United States and Pankaj from Maharashtra – managed to escape, Bibash’s body was recovered by Karnataka police on Saturday.
The incident occurred around 10:30 PM on Thursday when the victims, including four guests and the homestay owner, were stargazing near the Tungabhadra Canal close to Sanapur Lake. Three unidentified men on a motorcycle approached the group asking for petrol and money. After Bibash gave them Rs 20, the situation turned violent.
According to the police complaint, the assailants threatened the group with stones before pushing Daniel, Pankaj, and Bibash into the canal. They then attacked the homestay owner with stones and sexually assaulted both her and the 27-year-old Israeli tourist. The attackers also stole the homestay owner’s bag containing two mobile phones and Rs 9,500 before fleeing on their motorcycle.
While Daniel managed to rescue Pankaj from the canal, Bibash couldn’t be saved. The homestay owner filed an FIR at Gangavathi Rural Police Station on Friday night.
The four guests, including the deceased, had been staying at the homestay property after arriving on different dates. Police have launched an investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.