Homeless after husband’s domestic violence arrest, woman gang-raped in Karnataka’s Hubballi

Local residents who learnt about the incident from the videos allegedly assaulted the accused, shaved their heads, and handed them over to the police.

Three men have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 35-year-old woman in Karnataka’s Hubballi on Friday night and circulating videos of the sexual assault on social media.

Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar identified the men as Shivanand, 29, Ganesh, 31, and Pradeep, 28—all residents of Hubballi. According to a police officer, the accused picked up the woman from the Heggeri area, took her to an isolated location in an autorickshaw, sexually assaulted her, and forced her to drink alcohol around 11.30 pm. They shot videos and photographs of the assault, later sharing them on social media platforms.

Shashi Kumar told the media on Sunday that the woman had arrived in Hubballi approximately one and a half months ago after her husband had been jailed in a domestic violence case. She had been homeless since, spending nights outside temples and on streets, surviving on food provided at the Siddharoodha mutt and other religious places.

“The accused watched the woman roaming in the area and lured her offering money and food. Then they took her to an isolated place to gang-rape her. They also recorded videos and shared them on social media,” Shashi Kumar said.

Shashi Kumar said that Shivanand and Ganesh were booked for the gang rape, while Pradeep has been accused of circulating the video on social media.

While the locals assaulted Ganesh and Shivanand, a case was registered against the locals on Shivanand’s complaint. Four of the locals have been taken into custody.

Shashi Kumar said he would hold discussions with the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal corporation commissioner and officials of the women and child welfare department to explore measures to provide the woman with shelter and support her.

A police officer said the woman hails from Shivamogga district and that she had filed a domestic violence case against her husband a few months ago. After her husband’s arrest, she moved to Hubballi, the officer added. The police said investigations were underway in the gang rape case.