K'taka court convicts three men for gangrape of foreign tourist, murder
Gangavathi (Karnataka) (PTI): A court in Koppal district has convicted all the three accused in the gang rape of two women, including a foreign national, and the killing of a male tourist near Hampi.
The court is scheduled to pronounce the sentence on February 16, after hearing the convicts, police sources said.
The incident occurred in March last year, near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal in Sanapura, close to world heritage site Hampi.
According to police, the three who had been convicted had approached the two women survivors, an Israeli tourist and a home stay operator, and three other male tourist friends on the night of March 6, 2025, demanding for money.
When the money was denied, the trio allegedly attacked by pushing three men tourists into the canal and sexually assaulted the two women -- Israeli tourist and the homestay operator.
Two men among those pushed into the canal had managed to swim to safety, while a tourist from Odisha had drowned in the canal.
The court on Friday convicted Mallesh, Sai and Sharanappa for offences, including murder, gang rape, rape, attempt to murder, and robbery, under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police said.
The accused were physically produced before the court, they said.
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Kashmir minimum temperature rises, snowfall in higher reaches drops day temperature
Srinagar (PTI): The minimum temperature across Kashmir rose by 2 to 7 degrees Celsius, but snowfall in higher reaches significantly brought down the day temperature, officials said on Saturday.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar city increased by 5.5 degrees, from minus 2.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday night to 3.0 degrees on Friday night, the officials added.
Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest place in the valley.
In Pahalgam, a tourist resort in south Kashmir and base camp for the Amarnath yatra, the minimum temperature rose by 7 degrees, from minus 7.5 degrees Celsius to minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Other areas saw the following minimum temperatures: Qazigund at 0.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag at minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara at 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Fresh snowfall was reported in the higher reaches of Gulmarg and Sonamarg tourist resort in Ganderbal district, and adjoining areas, last night, the officials said. A slight drizzle occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the plains of the valley.
The snow and rain caused a significant drop in daytime temperatures, with dense clouds covering the sky.
A 20-day 'Chillai Khurd' (small cold) began last week, following the conclusion of the 40-day harshest winter period, 'Chillai-Kalan'. This will be followed by the 10-day 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).
