Indian police are investigating the rape of an Israeli tourist and her homestay host.

Authorities reported that the victims were stargazing with three other male travellers - an American and two Indians - when they were approached by three men on a motorcycle in Koppal, Karnataka, on March 6.

The suspects allegedly demanded money, which led to a heated argument. They then pushed the three men into a nearby water canal before assaulting the two ladies.

The Indian woman was the homestay host for the Israeli tourist.

One of the Indian men drowned, while the American and another Indian managed to swim to safety. Authorities later recovered the body of the deceased tourist on Saturday.

Two suspects have been arrested, with one remaining on the run.

Karnataka's Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced that six police teams are actively working to locate the remaining suspect.

The accused face charges of attempted murder, gang rape, and robbery.

Sexual violence against women is becoming more frequent in India, with the National Crime Records Bureau reporting 31,516 rape cases in 2022 - a 20 per cent increase from 2021.

However, the true extent of these crimes is believed to be far higher, as many incidents go unreported due to societal stigma and a lack of trust in the police.

The country is particularly dangerous for naive Western backpackers unaware of the feral nature of much of the Indian subcontinent.

In March last year, police arrested suspects accused of raping a Spanish tourist in East India. The 28-year-old female blogger and her husband were travelling by motorbike through Jharkhand's Dumka district when they set up a camp in a remote area. A group of seven bikers allegedly attacked the couple, beating the husband and molesting the woman before fleeing. The female tourist managed to reach a police patrol and was taken to a hospital for treatment.