Hampi horror: 3rd suspect nabbed in Tamil Nadu

KOPPAL: The third suspect in the Hampi horror in which two women, including an Israeli tourist, were gang-raped and a male companion murdered was arrested Sunday from an undisclosed location in Tamil Nadu.
The women — the 27-year-old Israeli and her female homestay host — were targeted late Thursday night by the three intruders while stargazing at Sanapur lake in Karnataka’s Koppal, about 25km from Unesco world heritage site Hampi.
A male tourist from Odisha, part of the group of five, was beaten and fatally pushed into a Tungabhadra canal along with two others, but the two of them swam to safety.
The gruesome attack drew widespread outrage and concerns over the safety of tourists at Hampi and its vicinity. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar have promised a thorough probe and justice. The third suspect, identified only as Sharanappa, is being brought from Tamil Nadu, police said. Two of his accomplices were held Saturday and identified as Mallesh alias Handi Mallesh, 22, and Chetan Sai Sillekyatar, 21. Mallesh and Chetan were taken to the scene of crime Sunday for reconstruction of events. All three face charges of sexual assault and murder, police said. The two sexual-assault survivors, who had been admitted to the local Gangavathi Sub-Division Hospital early Friday, were discharged on Sunday, officials said.

The attackers had also robbed the survivors, snatching two cellphones and Rs 9,500 in cash before fleeing the scene. The body of Bibash Nayak, 26, who drowned after being pushed into the canal, was brought home to Odisha and his last rites performed there.
(Inputs from Hrusikesh Mohanty in Berhampur)