In a shocking incident, a 39-year-old Swiss adventure tourist was gang-raped by a group of four men in a forest in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. The police have rounded up 15 people and are grilling them in connection with the case, even as the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi demanded a swift probe into the heinous crime.
The incident occurred at around 9 pm in the jungle close to Sewda road where the woman had camped for the night with her husband.
The couple, who had come to India for adventure tourism three months ago, was on its way to Agra from Orchha.
The victim along with her 29-year-old husband had started her Indian journey from Mumbai on February 12 on a bicycle. On Friday, the couple visited Orchha temple and started for Agra. At around 6 pm, they reached Datia district where they decided to camp for the night. Police said seven armed miscreants barged into their camp and beat them up. While four of them raped the woman, the others restrained her husband. The victim’s husband was also thrashed by them.
Before leaving the place, the rapists also took away valuables from the couple, including a laptop, a camera, mobile phones and Rs10,000 in cash.
Hours after the miscreants had left, the terrified couple managed to reach the main road late in the night, where with the help of a biker they reached the Civil line Police Station in Datia.
The woman was immediately rushed to Gwalior district hospital where a medical examination was conducted by the doctors, which confirmed rape.
later, she was brought to Datia where her condition is said to be stable.
The police have cordoned off the forest area where the ghastly incident took place. Police officials claimed that the accused would be arrested soon.
DIG Dilip Arya told The Pioneer that the police have got vital clues in the case and it will be solved soon. According to the victim, the miscreants were aged between 20 to 30 years, he said.
This is the second such incident in the last few months as earlier in January a foreign national, who came to visit the world-famous Bandhavgarh tiger reserve of the State was raped by the resort manager.
The South Korean student, who was holidaying on her own was allegedly drugged and raped by the son of a hotel owner where she was staying.
In New Delhi, Switzerland's Ambassador linus von Castelmur sought a “swift” investigation into the incident so that the victim gets justice.
“The Embassy is most distressed with the gang-rape of a Swiss national in Madhya Pradesh. The Ambassador has been able to speak to the victim and her partner and has assured them of all possible support. Their health and treatment is the priority of the moment.
“The embassy has also been in touch with the local authorities and has requested for swift investigation and for justice to be done,” the Swiss Embassy said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a similar incident took place in Indore where a 38-year-old married woman was allegedly gang-raped on a private bus by three men, including the driver and conductor.
Police on Saturday arrested the three accused, Zahid (30), who was the driver of the bus, conductor lala (22) and Rajesh (25).
The victim had boarded the bus at Dewas after she had a quarrel with her husband, Tukoganj police station in-charge Majoj Ratnakar said.
When the bus reached Indore, all passengers, barring the woman got off. Taking advantage of the fact that she was alone, the three accused allegedly raped her, police said.