In a significant judgment, the Koppal Sessions Court in Karnataka on Tuesday awarded the death penalty to three convicts in the Hampi gang rape and murder case. The court ruled that the brutality of the crime placed it in the “rarest of rare” category, warranting capital punishment.

The convicts were found guilty of attacking a group of tourists on March 6, 2025, near the Tungabhadra canal close to Hampi. The group included a tourist from Israel, a local homestay owner, and others who had gone to the area for stargazing. According to the prosecution, the attackers sexually assaulted two women and pushed three men into the canal. Two managed to escape, but an Odia tourist, Bibash Kumar, drowned.

The incident sparked nationwide outrage and drew significant media attention due to its brutality and the involvement of international tourists. Police arrested the accused soon after the crime, and medical examinations confirmed the sexual assault. Survivors were provided medical treatment and counselling.

With the pronouncement of the death sentence, the court has delivered a major verdict in one of the most shocking criminal cases reported in the region in recent years.