Indian police have arrested two
brothers accused of repeatedly
raping a 22-year-old Japanese
tourist over three weeks near Bodh
Gaya, Buddhism’s holiest site, an
official said Saturday.
The tourist had been held hostage
at gunpoint in a secluded
underground room close to a
pilgrimage site, according to a
preliminary investigation.
“When her health condition
deteriorated due to repeated rape
and poor living conditions, she was
brought to Gaya (district
headquarters) for medical
treatment on December 20,” a
police officer who is part of the
investigation told AFP on
condition of anonymity.
But she managed to escape and
reached Varanasi where she met
some Japanese tourists who
helped her contact the Japanese
consulate in the nearby city of
Kolkata, the officer added.
Sajid Khan, 32, and his 25-year-
old brother Jawed Khan, both
tourist guides, were arrested in the
case on Friday, police deputy
superintendent Alok Kumar Singh
said.
“We have arrested the duo for
confining and raping the Japanese
student,” Singh told AFP by
telephone from Bodh Gaya.
The Bodh Gaya complex, 110
kilometres (68 miles) south of
Bihar state capital Patna, is home
to one of the earliest Buddhist
temples still standing in India and
attracts visitors from all over the
world.
The Japanese woman, a university
student, had come to Gaya from
Kolkata where she had checked
into a hotel in November.
India has faced intense scrutiny
over its efforts to curb violence
against women following the fatal
gang rape of a medical student in
New Delhi in 2012 which sparked
global outcry.
Since then, several attacks on
foreign women have also been
reported, leading to a dip in tourist
numbers to the country.
Last January, a 51-year-old
Danish tourist was robbed and
gang raped at knife-point in Delhi.
In 2013, a Swiss cyclist holidaying
in central Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh was robbed and gang
raped by five men, all of whom
were later sentenced to life terms.
brothers accused of repeatedly
raping a 22-year-old Japanese
tourist over three weeks near Bodh
Gaya, Buddhism’s holiest site, an
official said Saturday.
The tourist had been held hostage
at gunpoint in a secluded
underground room close to a
pilgrimage site, according to a
preliminary investigation.
“When her health condition
deteriorated due to repeated rape
and poor living conditions, she was
brought to Gaya (district
headquarters) for medical
treatment on December 20,” a
police officer who is part of the
investigation told AFP on
condition of anonymity.
But she managed to escape and
reached Varanasi where she met
some Japanese tourists who
helped her contact the Japanese
consulate in the nearby city of
Kolkata, the officer added.
Sajid Khan, 32, and his 25-year-
old brother Jawed Khan, both
tourist guides, were arrested in the
case on Friday, police deputy
superintendent Alok Kumar Singh
said.
“We have arrested the duo for
confining and raping the Japanese
student,” Singh told AFP by
telephone from Bodh Gaya.
The Bodh Gaya complex, 110
kilometres (68 miles) south of
Bihar state capital Patna, is home
to one of the earliest Buddhist
temples still standing in India and
attracts visitors from all over the
world.
The Japanese woman, a university
student, had come to Gaya from
Kolkata where she had checked
into a hotel in November.
India has faced intense scrutiny
over its efforts to curb violence
against women following the fatal
gang rape of a medical student in
New Delhi in 2012 which sparked
global outcry.
Since then, several attacks on
foreign women have also been
reported, leading to a dip in tourist
numbers to the country.
Last January, a 51-year-old
Danish tourist was robbed and
gang raped at knife-point in Delhi.
In 2013, a Swiss cyclist holidaying
in central Indian state of Madhya
Pradesh was robbed and gang
raped by five men, all of whom
were later sentenced to life terms.
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