Incident Report: American Woman Allegedly Assaulted in Karnataka
An American woman was reportedly assaulted at a homestay in Kutta village, located in Karnataka’s Kodagu district. Authorities stated that she was possibly given a drink mixed with harmful substances before the incident took place. Two individuals have since been arrested in connection with the case.
The victim, who resides in Washington, was visiting India when the alleged assault occurred. According to police sources, the accused is a man from Jharkhand, who has been charged with sexual assault. Another suspect is the homestay owner, accused of trying to hide the incident.
“It is alleged that the victim was served a drink that made her incapacitated, leading to the assault. Based on her complaint and the evidence we have, we have filed a case and taken the accused into custody,” a police officer shared.
Police reported that the homestay owner disconnected the victim’s WiFi for three days, preventing her from making contact or seeking help. “Preliminary evidence suggests that the owner attempted to limit her communication. His involvement is under investigation, and he has also been arrested,” the officer added.
After three days, the victim was able to leave the homestay, telling the owner she was going to Mysuru. She then reached out to U.S. authorities, prompting American officials to contact Indian police via email.
Both the accused and the homestay owner have been placed in judicial custody until May 3, as directed by a local court. “Following communications from the U.S. embassy, we swiftly began formal proceedings. The case was registered without delay, and investigation teams were deployed,” an officer stated.
The U.S. Department of State has also engaged with Indian officials regarding the situation. The Ministry of External Affairs in India has been in touch with local police to assess the situation and coordinate further actions. The district administration is currently withholding detailed comments on the case due to its sensitive nature.
Investigators are conducting a thorough review, including forensic examinations and digital evidence collection. They are committed to ensuring an impartial investigation, looking into all possible angles of the case.
Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara commented on the situation, stating that law enforcement acted quickly once they received information about the incident. “Such events create a negative perception of our state and society, especially involving outsiders. It seems there were attempts to cover this up, but upon receiving information, the police took swift action to secure the individuals and gather facts,” he remarked.
