In a disturbing incident, two young girls fell victim to a gang assault and blackmail in the hilly region near Savasuddi village in Raibag taluk.
Acting promptly, the police apprehended three suspects: Abhishek, Adil Jamadar, and Kautuk Badiger, the driver of the vehicle involved.
Belagavi District Superintendent of Police, Dr Bhimashankar Guled, disclosed that Abhishek had initiated contact with one of the victims through Instagram. He convinced her to accompany him on a trip to Saundatti, gaining her trust in the process. The victim then invited her friend, and together they made their way to the bus station, where Abhishek met them and transported them in an Ertiga car, along with the other two suspects.
The suspects took the victims to a secluded area near Savasuddi village, where the assaults occurred on January 3. Abhishek assaulted one of the girls, while Kautuk Badiger and Adil Jamadar assaulted the other. The perpetrators recorded videos of the heinous acts on their mobile phones and later used the footage to blackmail the victims, coercing them to meet in Goa.

The victims confided in their families about the ordeal. Subsequently, one of them, accompanied by her cousin, complained to the Harugeri police station on January 13. Within 24 hours, the police had apprehended two of the accused. The authorities have assured that further investigations are ongoing to ensure swift justice is served.