NEW DELHI, March 2 (Bernama): A Spanish tourist was gang-raped in eastern India while on a bike tour with her husband.
The crime took place in the Hansdiha area of Jharkhand state's Dumka district, about 300 km from the state capital Ranchi, on Friday night, local media reported on Saturday, citing police.
The tourists had decided to spend the night in a makeshift tent in the area while on their way to Nepal via the neighbouring state of Bihar.
A gang of people found them there, assaulted the couple and gang-raped the woman, according to a report on the Indian Express website.
"The couple are bikers who are touring places and keep camping at different locations from time to time on their journey. Police are collecting further details," a police official told another newspaper.
Seven to eight people were involved in the rape and three suspects were held for questioning, the reports said.
Meanwhile, local media reports stated that following the gruesome incident, Police Superintendent Pitambar Singh Kherwar reportedly arrived at the scene late in the night and apprehended three individuals. "The incident of gangrape occurred on Friday night," disclosed Jarmundi Sub Divisional Police Officer Santosh Kumar to PTI news agency.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, another official reportedly mentioned the involvement of seven to eight local youths in the crime.
The victim, on a biking excursion with her spouse towards Nepal via Bhagalpur, had halted at Dumka when the assault occurred. According to her statement, the couple had set up their tent in a secluded spot near the Hansdiha market.
While she was asleep, several local youths barged into the tent and took turns raping her, also resorting to physical violence, as per her complaint to the police authorities.
Following the assault, the woman was admitted to Saraiyahat Community Health Centre for medical treatment. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter. According to the police, the victim is reportedly undergoing medical examinations at Dumka's Phulo Jhano Medical College Hospital.
India recorded an average of 86 rapes per day in 2022, according to official crime data, with the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh registering the highest number of sexual assaults. - Bernama
