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Danish tourist gang-raped in Delhi Danish tourist gang-raped in Delhi
(about 3 hours later)
Ten men have been detained in Delhi after a Danish tourist told police she was gang-raped when she lost her way in the Indian capital and asked for directions back to her hotel. Two men have been arrested and at least eight more detained in Delhi after a Danish tourist told police she was gang-raped when she got lost in the Indian capital and asked for directions to her hotel.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, is the latest of a series of cases that have focused international attention on a wave of sexual violence towards women in India. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, is the latest of a series of cases that have focused international attention on sexual violence towards women in India.
Police officials said the 51-year-old woman was also robbed and beaten in the attack, which happened in the afternoon in narrow streets near Connaught Place, a popular central shopping centre and one of Delhi's tourist attractions. The tourist, who was returning from India's National Museum on foot, managed to reach her hotel later in the evening and the owner called the police. Police officials said the 51-year-old woman was also robbed and beaten in the attack, which happened in the afternoon in narrow streets near Connaught Place, a popular central shopping centre and one of Delhi's tourist attractions. The tourist was returning from India's National Museum on foot.
"It was miserable," said Amit Bahl, owner of the Amax hotel. "I am really ashamed that this happened." "It was miserable," said Amit Bahl, owner of the Amax hotel where she was staying. "I am really ashamed that this happened."
The woman has now returned to Denmark. The woman has returned to Denmark.
"She has already left India by air and is on her way home," Rajeev Sharma, assistant commissioner with the Delhi police, told the Danish broadcaster TV2. "But we need a medical examination of the Danish woman, so we are still in contact with the Danish embassy.""She has already left India by air and is on her way home," Rajeev Sharma, assistant commissioner with the Delhi police, told the Danish broadcaster TV2. "But we need a medical examination of the Danish woman, so we are still in contact with the Danish embassy."
Delhi police confirmed that a robbery and rape case had been "registered". "We are questioning a group of men," said Rajan Bhagat, a police spokesman. Delhi police confirmed that a robbery and rape case had been registered. "We are questioning a group of men," said Rajan Bhagat, a police spokesman.
The problem of sexual violence in India was highlighted by the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapist on a bus in Delhi in December 2012.The problem of sexual violence in India was highlighted by the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapist on a bus in Delhi in December 2012.
The case prompted grief and outrage across India, with thousands taking to the streets in protests demanding tougher laws, better policing and a wholesale shift in cultural attitudes. The United Nations asked India, the world's second most populous country, to ensure security for women. The case prompted grief and outrage across India, with thousands taking to the streets in protests demanding tougher laws, better policing and a shift in cultural attitudes. The United Nations asked India, the world's second most populous country, to ensure security for women. But although prison terms for rape have been stiffened, stalking made a criminal offence and gender sensitivity programmes introduced for some police officers, little appears to have change on the ground.
But though prison terms for rape have been stiffened, stalking made a criminal offence and gender sensitivity programmes introduced for some police officers, there appears to have been little change on the ground. Vrinda Grover, a campaigner and lawyer, said the most recent attack showed that "every day is a dangerous day for the women of Delhi". She added: "That this happened where it did is stunning. Women are most vulnerable, but Delhi police are not ensuring basic security. Anyone can be robbed or mugged. We need systematic measures, not soundbites."
Vrinda Grover, a campaigner and lawyer, said the most recent attack showed that "every day is a dangerous day for the women of Delhi". Every week India's media describe attacks on women across the country, often involving several men and frequently resulting in the death of the victim. On Wednesday, newspapers reported the gang-rape of a teenager in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Last week a 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped, tortured and killed in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district. In southern Andhra Pradesh, nine men arrested earlier this month reportedly told police they had raped 59 women in the past two years.
"That this happened where it did is stunning. Women are most vulnerable, but Delhi police are not ensuring basic security. Anyone can be robbed or mugged. We need systematic measures, not soundbites," she told the Guardian.
Every week India's media describe attacks on women across the country, often involving several men and frequently resulting in the death of the victim.
On Wednesday, newspapers reported the gang-rape of a teenager in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Last week a 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and "tortured" before being killed in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district. In southern Andhra Pradesh, nine men arrested earlier this month reportedly told police they had raped 59 women in the past two years.
The eastern state of West Bengal has emerged as a particular blackspot. Pranab Mukherjee, India's president, recently met the parents of a 16-year-old who was gang-raped twice in October and then set on fire. She died of her injuries. The second rape occurred as she was returning from a police station where she reported the first attack. Authorities have been criticised for failing to ensure her safety.The eastern state of West Bengal has emerged as a particular blackspot. Pranab Mukherjee, India's president, recently met the parents of a 16-year-old who was gang-raped twice in October and then set on fire. She died of her injuries. The second rape occurred as she was returning from a police station where she reported the first attack. Authorities have been criticised for failing to ensure her safety.
The exact causes of the current wave of sexual violence – and its extent – are hotly debated. Among other factors, analysts blame rapid urbanisation, fast-changing gender roles, bad urban planning, poor policing and deep-rooted social attitudes. The exact causes of the wave of sexual violence – and its extent – are hotly debated. Analysts blame rapid urbanisation, fast-changing gender roles, bad urban planning, poor policing and deep-rooted social attitudes.
Ranjana Kumari, director of the pro-feminist thinktank the Centre for Social Research, said India's conservative and patriarchal traditions led men to use rape as a tool to instil fear in women. Ranjana Kumari, director of the pro-feminist thinktank the Centre for Social Research, said India's conservative and patriarchal traditions led men to use rape as a tool to instil fear in women.
"This mindset is not changing. It's a huge challenge," she said."This mindset is not changing. It's a huge challenge," she said.
Between January and October last year, 1,330 rapes were reported in Delhi and its suburbs, compared with 706 for all of 2012, according to government figures. Police officials say the rise may indicate that women are becoming more likely to lodge complaints about crimes.Between January and October last year, 1,330 rapes were reported in Delhi and its suburbs, compared with 706 for all of 2012, according to government figures. Police officials say the rise may indicate that women are becoming more likely to lodge complaints about crimes.
News of the attack on the Danish tourist comes weeks after a Polish woman said she was drugged and raped by a taxi driver while travelling with her two-year-old daughter to New Delhi.News of the attack on the Danish tourist comes weeks after a Polish woman said she was drugged and raped by a taxi driver while travelling with her two-year-old daughter to New Delhi.
Last year saw a series of incidents involving foreigners. In March a British woman jumped out of the window of her hotel room in Agra – home to the Taj Mahal – to avoid an assault by a staff member, and a Swiss woman who was cycling with her husband in central India was gang-raped. In June, an American woman was gang-raped by three men while hitch-hiking back to her hotel in the Himalayan valley of Kullu. Last year saw a series of incidents involving foreigners. In March a British woman jumped out of the window of her hotel room in Agra – home to the Taj Mahal – to avoid an assault by a staff member, and a Swiss woman who was cycling with her husband in central India was gang-raped. In June an American woman was gang-raped by three men while hitch-hiking back to her hotel in the Himalayan valley of Kullu.
The tourism ministry has launched a publicity campaign – I Respect Women – after industry surveys showed a steep drop in the number of tourists coming to India.The tourism ministry has launched a publicity campaign – I Respect Women – after industry surveys showed a steep drop in the number of tourists coming to India.
A study by India's Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that foreign tourist visits to India had dropped 25% in the three months after the rape and murder of the Delhi woman. Tourist visits by women fell by 35%.A study by India's Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that foreign tourist visits to India had dropped 25% in the three months after the rape and murder of the Delhi woman. Tourist visits by women fell by 35%.
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