Hindutva blames Muslims for Hampi rape, murder, linking it to Israel-Palestine conflict
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Soon after news emerged of the brutal assault and gang rape of two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a homestay owner, near Karnataka’s Sanapur Lake in Gangavati, a dangerous hate campaign was launched by Hindutva accounts against Indian Muslims across social media platforms, particularly on X, as far-right users selectively highlighted the rape of the Israeli woman and immediately linked the crime with the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Several accounts falsely claimed that Indian Muslims carried out the crime as an act of revenge for the cause of Palestinian “Muslim brethren,” and they attempted to substantiate their narrative by asserting that Muslims around the world harbour immense hate for Israel, suggesting they are the only ones who would harm Israeli nationals.
Many X users copy-pasted the same caption across social media, tagging Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case, with the caption originating from Mr Sinha, a propagandist Hindutva influencer infamous for circulating misleading news.
The caption read, “Karnataka: An Israeli tourist and a woman from Odisha were rap*d, and three other male companions were badly assaulted. One of them is found dead in a canal. Since an Israeli national is involved, the involvement of pro-Palestinian elements can’t be denied. @HMOIndia should give this case to CBI so that Karnataka’s Congress gvt doesn’t try to cover up… Since an Israeli national is involved, the involvement of pro-Palestinian elements can’t be denied..@HMOIndia.”
Sinha’s misleading claims instigated several people against the Muslims, leading to social media users expressing frustration and some demanding a nationwide crackdown on Indian Muslims, while others amplified the false claim that Islam encourages its followers to “rape and kill non-Muslims.”
His posts misled the public into believing that Indian Muslims were conspiring to damage India’s diplomatic relations with Israel, causing the misinformation to spread rapidly, with hundreds of comments under his post calling for the deportation or killing of Indian Muslims.
Amid this misinformation campaign, Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi confirmed on Sunday that all three accused in the tourist rape case had been arrested, stating that two individuals had been apprehended on March 8, while the third suspect was arrested in Tamil Nadu, where he had fled after the crime.
The two suspects arrested earlier were identified as 22-year-old Mallesh alias Handi Malla and 21-year-old Chetan Sai, both residents of Gangavathi taluk in Koppal district, while the third accused was captured outside the state. Tangadagi, who is also the district in-charge minister, condemned the crime, stating that such an incident should never have happened, and assured that the accused would face legal consequences.
The crime reportedly occurred on the night of March 6 near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal, where the Israeli tourist and the elderly homestay owner were stargazing with three other travellers, including a man from the United States and two others from Maharashtra and Odisha.
The accused, who arrived on a motorcycle, initially asked for directions to a petrol station and then demanded Rs 100 from the Israeli woman, leading to an argument when the group refused, after which the attackers pushed the three male travellers into the canal before targeting the women and fleeing the scene on their motorcycle.