A Brazilian-Spanish tourist was reportedly gang-raped in India, with her partner attacked, during a camping excursion on a motorcycle trip.
Indian police have apprehended three individuals and are on the lookout for four others allegedly involved in the assault that occurred on Friday night.
Police discovered the couple, Spanish citizens, around 11 p.m. local time, visibly battered, on a roadside, as stated by Pitamber Singh Kherwar, superintendent of police in Dumka, eastern India.
“The couple informed authorities that they were subjected to an assault involving seven men, but did not provide further details,” said Kherwar.
Identifying themselves as Vicente and Fernanda to Spanish TV channel Antena 3, the couple recounted their ordeal in a video interview on Saturday. Fernanda, who holds joint Brazilian-Spanish nationality, disclosed to the broadcaster, “They raped me, they took turns while some watched and they stayed like that for about two hours.”
They explained they were camping due to the unavailability of nearby hotels, documenting their global motorcycle travels to nearly 200,000 followers on their joint Instagram account.
In a now unavailable video post, Vicente lamented the damage inflicted on his mouth after being struck with his helmet, while Fernanda revealed she was beaten and raped by seven men, with robbery also occurring.
In a subsequent video, a bruised Fernanda and Vicente expressed gratitude to their Instagram followers for their support.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed dispatching personnel to the area and coordinating with local authorities, while its Brazilian counterpart stated it was in contact with the Brazilian citizen through its embassy in New Delhi, ready to provide assistance.
Police superintendent Kherwar disclosed that one of the detainees had furnished the names of other participants. A forensic science laboratory is aiding in the investigation, he added.
India’s record for women’s safety remains troubling, with over 31,000 reported rapes in 2022.
The incident has incited widespread condemnation in India, with numerous women sharing their own encounters with sexual violence on social media, alongside frustrations regarding its handling.
Actor Richa Chadha denounced the attack as “shameful,” while comedian Vir Das called for the “strictest punishment” to signal zero tolerance towards such violence.
Actor Dulquer Salmaan expressed dismay over the news, emphasizing, “This should not happen to anyone anywhere,” on Instagram.
