A shocking incident of sexual violence has come to light in Karnataka's Hubballi, where a 35-year-old homeless woman was allegedly gang-raped by three men. The crime, which occurred on the night of Friday, January 9, 2026, took a further disturbing turn when the accused recorded videos of the assault and circulated them on social media.
Brutal Assault on a Vulnerable Victim
According to Hubballi Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar, the victim had arrived in the city approximately one and a half months prior to the incident. She was rendered homeless after her husband was jailed in a domestic violence case she had filed a few months earlier in her native Shivamogga district. Since moving to Hubballi, she had been surviving on food provided at religious places like the Siddharoodha mutt and sleeping on streets or outside temples.
The accused, identified as Shivanand (29), Ganesh (31), and Pradeep (28), all residents of Hubballi, allegedly spotted the woman roaming in the Heggeri area. They lured her by promising money and food. Around 11:30 PM, they took her in an autorickshaw to an isolated location. There, they gang-raped her, forced her to consume alcohol, and recorded videos and photographs of the sexual assault.
Public Outrage and Vigilante Justice
The perpetrators' decision to share the horrific videos online backfired spectacularly. As the clips circulated on social media platforms, local residents in Hubballi learned of the crime. Enraged by the brutality, a group of locals tracked down the accused.
In an act of vigilante justice, the locals allegedly assaulted Shivanand and Ganesh, shaved their heads, and then handed them over to the police. A case was subsequently registered against these locals based on a complaint filed by Shivanand, leading to four locals being taken into custody.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
The police have arrested all three primary accused. Shivanand and Ganesh have been booked for gang rape, while Pradeep faces charges for circulating the incriminating video on social media. Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar confirmed that investigations are actively underway.
In response to the victim's plight, the Commissioner stated he would hold discussions with the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation commissioner and officials from the women and child welfare department. The aim is to explore measures to provide the survivor with shelter and necessary support as she recovers from this traumatic ordeal.
This case highlights a severe failure of the social safety net for vulnerable women, especially survivors of domestic violence. It also underscores the dangerous role of social media in both perpetuating crime and triggering public mob justice.
