BENGALURU: Two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident where a 27-year-old Israeli woman and a homestay owner were gangraped in Karnataka. The arrested persons have been identified as Gangavathi natives Chethan Sai and Sai Mallu. According to Koppal SP, there was one more person with them, and the police are continuing to search for him. The shocking incident occurred near a canal in Koppal district, Karnataka, on Thursday night. The police reported that the young women who were victims of the assault are now recovering.

The accused carried out the gang rape after pushing three male tourists—Daniel from the USA, Pankaj from Maharashtra, and Bibash from Odisha—into the canal. Daniel and Pankaj managed to swim to safety, but Bibash drowned. His body was discovered early this morning in the canal. Bibash's body was found by the fire force and dog squad.

The 29-year-old homestay owner had loged a complaint regarding the incident. According to her complaint, she and the four others went to the canal's shore for stargazing at night when the accused arrived at the spot on a motorbike.

“First, they asked for a nearby petrol pump. Then they demanded Rs 100. When the men refused to pay, the assailants pushed them into the canal and then gang raped us. After this, they fled the spot,” said the complainant.