Daijiworld Media Network - Koppal
Koppal, Feb 16: In a landmark verdict that underscores the pursuit of swift justice, the Gangavathi additional district and sessions court has sentenced three men to death for the cold-blooded murder of an Odisha tourist and the horrific gang-rape of two women, including an Israeli national.
The court’s decision marks a significant milestone, as the final judgement was delivered a mere 11 months after the chilling crime sent shockwaves through the quiet tourist hamlets of Sanapura.
A night of terror by the canal
The tragedy unfolded on the night of March 6, 2025, when a group of five travellers staying at an Anegondi homestay ventured out for a stroll after dinner. The group — an international mix of friends — had settled near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal to enjoy the evening breeze and listen to music.
Their peaceful retreat was shattered when three local miscreants, identified as Mallesh (alias Handimalla), Sai, and Sharanappa, descended upon them. Driven by a predatory intent to rob the group and fueled by alcohol, the trio instigated a violent confrontation.
In a drunken frenzy, the attackers brutally assaulted the three men in the party, eventually shoving them into the deep waters of the nearby lake. While the men fought for their lives in the water, the predators turned their attention to the two remaining women — one from Israel and one from India — subjecting them to a harrowing gang-rape.
"The brutality of the assault was matched only by the calculated nature of the crime," investigators noted during the trial.
Tragedy struck as the men struggled in the canal. While two of the tourists managed to scramble back to the shore, Bibasha, a young man from Odisha, had sustained a crippling blow to the head during the initial scuffle. Unable to stay afloat, he drowned in the dark waters. His body was recovered by authorities 24 hours later.
The other survivors included Daniel from Germany and Pankaj from Maharashtra, both of whom sustained significant physical injuries during the targeted attack.
Following a fast-tracked trial, the Gangavathi Additional District Court officially declared the trio guilty earlier this week. In a packed courtroom today, the judge handed down the maximum sentence: death by hanging.