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India arrests five for kidnap and rape of Japanese woman | India arrests five for kidnap and rape of Japanese woman |
(4 days later) | |
Five men have been arrested in India charged with kidnapping and repeatedly raping a Japanese student. | Five men have been arrested in India charged with kidnapping and repeatedly raping a Japanese student. |
Police in the eastern city of Calcutta say the assaults took place over a period of more than a month from 23 November and in at least two locations. | Police in the eastern city of Calcutta say the assaults took place over a period of more than a month from 23 November and in at least two locations. |
They say an organised gang is suspected of targeting single women tourists. | They say an organised gang is suspected of targeting single women tourists. |
Increasing numbers of rape cases are being reported and highlighted in India, prompting widespread outrage. | Increasing numbers of rape cases are being reported and highlighted in India, prompting widespread outrage. |
Pallav Kanti Ghosh, a Calcutta police commissioner, told BBC Hindi that two of the men - said to be brothers - approached the 23-year-old victim as tourist guides after she arrived in the city and checked into a hotel in an area popular with foreign tourists. | Pallav Kanti Ghosh, a Calcutta police commissioner, told BBC Hindi that two of the men - said to be brothers - approached the 23-year-old victim as tourist guides after she arrived in the city and checked into a hotel in an area popular with foreign tourists. |
Trafficked at Buddhist holy site | Trafficked at Buddhist holy site |
"One of the men spoke very fluent Japanese," he said. | "One of the men spoke very fluent Japanese," he said. |
"They said: 'We are guides and want to take you sight-seeing.' | "They said: 'We are guides and want to take you sight-seeing.' |
"They took her to Digha [a beach resort in West Bengal state] on 23 November. There they sexually assaulted her and robbed her of 76,000 rupees [$1,200] using her ATM card." | |
She was then taken to Bodh Gaya, the holiest site of Buddhism and a major pilgrimage and tourist centre. | She was then taken to Bodh Gaya, the holiest site of Buddhism and a major pilgrimage and tourist centre. |
"There, the men handed her over to other gang members," Mr Ghosh said. | "There, the men handed her over to other gang members," Mr Ghosh said. |
The woman was held captive for several weeks and the assaults continued, he said. | The woman was held captive for several weeks and the assaults continued, he said. |
In late December she managed to reach the city of Varanasi from where she travelled to Calcutta, lodging a complaint via the Japanese consulate on 26 December. | In late December she managed to reach the city of Varanasi from where she travelled to Calcutta, lodging a complaint via the Japanese consulate on 26 December. |
Mr Ghosh said three of the men were arrested near Bodh Gaya and two in Calcutta. The Hindustan Times newspaper said some were held after their mobile phone calls were intercepted. | Mr Ghosh said three of the men were arrested near Bodh Gaya and two in Calcutta. The Hindustan Times newspaper said some were held after their mobile phone calls were intercepted. |
He said police were searching for other members of what he called an organised gang, several of whom are reportedly proficient in Japanese. | He said police were searching for other members of what he called an organised gang, several of whom are reportedly proficient in Japanese. |
Sexual violence in India has been in the spotlight since a student was fatally gang-raped on a bus in Delhi two years ago. | Sexual violence in India has been in the spotlight since a student was fatally gang-raped on a bus in Delhi two years ago. |
That and other cases have prompted a domestic and international outcry. | That and other cases have prompted a domestic and international outcry. |
Other foreign women targeted by gang-rapists include a Swiss cyclist assaulted in central India in 2013 and a Danish tourist attacked in Delhi a year ago. | Other foreign women targeted by gang-rapists include a Swiss cyclist assaulted in central India in 2013 and a Danish tourist attacked in Delhi a year ago. |
Rape laws have been toughened in response to the crimes but correspondents say this has failed to act as a deterrent. | Rape laws have been toughened in response to the crimes but correspondents say this has failed to act as a deterrent. |
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