The death sentence has been handed to three men for raping two women and murdering a man near Hampi, India. The Gangavathi First Additional District and Sessions Court delivered the guilty verdict on February 6, followed by sentencing on Monday, February 16 by Judge Sadananda Nagappa Naik.

The convicted men, identified as Mallesh alias Handimall, Sai and Sharanappa, were found guilty of attacking a group of tourists stargazing at Sanapur Lake, about 2.5 miles from the UNESCO World Heritage Site in March 2025. The group included visitors from the United States, Odisha and Maharashtra, along with a 27yearold Israeli woman and a 29yearold homestay owner. Before announcing the sentence, the court had requested detailed reports on the men's psychological condition, jail conduct and social background.

The prosecution argued that the case qualifies as a "rarest of rare" crime due to the combination of murder, sexual assault and violent robbery. The attack occurred while a group of tourists and a local guide were stargazing along the Tungabhadra canal.

The three men assaulted the group, forcing the male tourists into the water, where Nayak later drowned. The women were gang raped and their valuables were stolen.

Charges were filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder, attempt to murder, gang rape, grievous bodily harm and robbery. Convictions carry severe penalties - murder may result in the death penalty, gang rape up to 20 years in prison and other offences up to 10 years.

The incident led to a decline in foreign tourism in Hampi and prompted the Karnataka government to strengthen visitor safety measures. Local police reported increased patrols and assured that Hampi remains safe for both Indian and international visitors.

According to the complaint, the assailants approached the tourists on a motorbike, initially asking for directions and then demanding money. When refused, they forced several men into the Tungabhadra Canal and assaulted the group.

The Israeli woman and the homestay owner were sexually assaulted, while the attackers also stole money and mobile phones before fleeing. Two male tourists managed to swim to safety and were hospitalised.

One tourist from Odisha drowned and his body was recovered the following morning, leading to murder charges. Police launched a manhunt soon after the crime, arresting the suspects within days. The trial concluded with the death penalty handed down less than a year after the attack.

The incident drew sharp condemnation from political leaders and raised concerns about visitor safety at heritage sites.