Delhi HR manager killed while defending women from sexual assault
Bibhas Nayak, a 29-year-old HR manager at St Stephen’s Hospital in New Delhi, died while defending two women from sexual assault in Karnataka’s Koppal district. The incident took place on 6 March near Sanapur village, close to the popular tourist site of Hampi. Bibhas was overpowered by three attackers and thrown into a canal. His body was recovered on Saturday, and Karnataka police have since arrested the suspects. His grieving family has called for a thorough and fair investigation.
A Life Driven by Adventure and Faith
Originally from Derabadi village in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, Bibhas was the son of BK Nayak, bishop of Agra diocese and moderator of the Church of North India (CNI) Synod. He completed his schooling at Stewart School in Bhubaneswar before moving to Chennai for higher studies. He earned a BBA from Madras Christian College and later completed his MBA in Mumbai.
A passionate traveller, Bibhas had cycled across multiple states in India, eager to explore new places. “He had last visited Kandhamal around three months ago,” said his cousin, Firoz Pradhan, who runs a business in Odisha. “A travel enthusiast, he had travelled to many states on his bicycle.”
The Night of the Attack
During his trip to Karnataka, Bibhas befriended a group of fellow travellers, including an Israeli woman, a man from the US, another from Maharashtra, and a female homestay operator. On the night of the attack, they were stargazing near a canal when three men approached them.
As the attackers turned violent, Bibhas stepped in to defend the women. Despite his efforts, he was overpowered and flung into the water. His two male companions managed to escape, but he drowned. The news of his death has left his family and friends