India: six held over gang-rape of Swiss tourist

http://www.euronews.com/ Six men accused of raping a Swiss tourist in Madhya Pradesh, India appeared in court on March 18 before a local magistrate and were remanded in custody.

The rape victim and her husband were attacked on March 16 in woodland where they had set up camp for the night – during a cycle trip north to see the Taj Mahal.

A group of six men reportedly physically assaulted the man before raping his wife in front of him.

In Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal, Congress Party legislators called for the state’s interior minister to resign because of the attack. The party, in opposition in Madhya Pradesh, is India’s federal ruling party.

Legislator Nishith Patel said: “It’s a very shameful happening, which has happened in Madhya Pradesh. We, all the MLAs of the Congress Party, have come out to do this demonstration so that the lady will get justice.”

The rape has sparked fresh protests over womens’ rights in India.

It comes three months after a female student was gang-raped and beaten on a Delhi bus. She died from her injuries.

The bus rape led to mass demonstrations and a tightening of the country’s rape laws – including harsher punishments for perpetrators.

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