KOPPAL: Four days after the horrific attack, one of the two rape survivors - a 27-year-old Israeli tourist - returned to her home country on Monday. She was visiting the area near Unesco world heritage site Hampi when the assault took place on Thursday night near the Tungabhadra canal in Sanapur, near here.
The attack occurred while she was stargazing with a homestay owner, a US tourist & two Indian tourists.
Koppal police ramp up security, patrols
Police have arrested all three suspects. The Israeli woman was escorted to Bengaluru by local police before she left for her home country. According to a police officer, she remained “deeply shaken” and was keen to get back home.
Cancellation of tour plans
The assault has triggered panic among foreign and domestic tourists alike, with many cancelling bookings and leaving the area. "Every year, over a lakh foreign tourists visit Hampi and surrounding areas," according to Karnataka Tourist Guides' Association.
Following the attack, nearly 50% of visitors - many of them Israelis - vacated homestays and left the region. Those who have chosen to stay have been advised to move in groups and avoid venturing out alone, especially at night.
Authorities have ramped up security to restore confidence among tourists. Police have increased night patrolling, installed barricades for vehicle checks,= and directed homestay and resort owners to install CCTV cameras.
Ram L Arasiddi, Koppal superintendent of police, said highway patrolling vehicles have been doubled, and an inspector-level officer has been assigned for night rounds in Anegundi and Sanapur.
"We organised meetings with all homestay and resort owners on Sunday. We've instructed them to get CCTV cameras installed on their premises," Arasiddi said.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)