Interfaith couple attacked in hotel room in Karnataka, woman alleges gangrape

The men also recorded videos of the assault, which quickly spread online, grabbing the police’s attention.

Haveri Superintendent of Police Anshu Kumar confirmed that IPC Section 376D (gangrape) had been invoked against the accused, in addition to other charges. “We have taken five persons into custody, while a sixth, who met with an accident, is in hospital. We will take him into custody once he recovers,” Kumar said.

While two men — Aftab Maqbool Ahmed Chandanakatti (24) and Madarsab Mahmed Isaq Mandakki (23) — were arrested in the morning, the rest were picked up later in the day. Police have not disclosed their identities.

Police said the woman, in her 20s, is married and hails from Uttara Kannada district. According to police, she was in a relationship with the man she had checked into the hotel with, who is from Shivamogga district.

The initial complaint about the attack was filed by a hotel staffer on January 10, and police invoked sections relating to assault and outraging a woman’s modesty.

However, in a video that emerged on Thursday, the woman has alleged that she was gangraped. “I reached the lodge around 1 pm. A few minutes after I entered, many youths barged in and attacked us. They assaulted me and took me on a bike. I was taken to a forest and raped. I begged them to leave me but they did not pay any heed. Later, they dropped me near the bus stand and left. I want them to be punished,” she says in the video.

On Thursday evening, police recorded the woman’s statement. “The suspects were aware of the woman’s meeting, and followed her and the man to the room,” said an officer, adding that the videos were possibly recorded to blackmail the man and the woman and to ensure that she didn’t report the crime. This modus operandi has led police to believe they may have been involved in such crimes in the past too.

State Home Minister G Parameshwara said there are standard instructions to curtail such incidents of moral policing, and the law will take its course.

Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan said, “We will initiate action against those who take the law into their hands. We are taking this case seriously.”

The communally sensitive coastal Karnataka region often witnesses cases of moral policing. Days after taking charge as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah had vowed to put an end to such incidents in the state.