- Title: INDIA: Police say a Swiss woman reports being raped in central India
- Date: 16th March 2013
- Summary: DATIA, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (MARCH 16, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) ARMED POLICEMEN WALKING IN THE FORESTS DURING SEARCH OPERATION POLICEMEN ENGAGED IN SEARCH OPERATION SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER OF POLICE, ML DHODY INTERACTING WITH AN OFFICIAL POLICE AND SECURITY PERSONNEL STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER OF POLICE, ML DHODY, SAYING: "A foreign couple were on their way back from Orchha on a bicycle and decided to camp in the forest as several tourists come. Some unidentified men beat them up and took away their laptop. We have sent them for a medical examination." POLICEMEN ENGAGED IN SEARCH OPERATION SEARCH OPERATION IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER OF POLICE, ML DHODY, SAYING: "There is a possibility as she has said that she was raped." CROWD OF POLICEMEN STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CHAIRMAN OF INDIA'S NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN, MAMATA SHARMA, SAYING: "The government should pay attention towards what is happening with the foreigners. I am saying this for the past few days that the crime against women in Madhya Pradesh is increasing and the government should take stringent action to put an end to such incidents. Many incidents of violence against women have come to limelight in Madhya Pradesh but the government is completely insensitive towards them. The accused should be punished and we should see that what kind of image of India we are presenting to the outside world. The government should take a strict action." SHARMA LEAVING
- Embargoed: 31st March 2013 22:08
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVAO3172AJUTN5UEQN30I6C2A32
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Police said on Saturday (March 16) a Swiss couple reported being robbed and attacked by a group of unidentified people in India's central Madhya Pradesh state. The woman also reported being raped by the group, police said.
"A foreign couple was on their way back from Orchha on a bicycle and decided to camp in the forest as several tourists do. Some unidentified men beat them up them and had taken away their laptop. We have sent them for a medical examination," said Sub Divisional Officer of Police, ML Dhody said on Saturday (March 16).
Dhody added that the woman said she had been raped.
"There is a possibility, as she has said that she was raped," he added.
The Chairman of India's National Commission for Women, Mamata Sharma slammed the provincial government of Madhya Pradesh over its failure to curb violence against women.
"The government should pay attention towards what is happening with the foreigners. I am saying this for the past few days that the crime against women in Madhya Pradesh is increasing and the government should take stringent action to put an end to such incidents. Many incidents of violence against women have come into the limelight in Madhya Pradesh but the government is completely insensitive towards them. The accused should be punished and we should see what kind of image of India we are presenting to the outside world. The government should take a strict action," said Sharma.
In December last year, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang raped onboard a moving bus in an attack that horrified the nation.
She and a male companion, who was beaten unconscious, were thrown out of the bus, naked and bleeding, after the assault. The student later died of her injuries.
Six men, including a juvenile, were put on trial for the Dec. 16 attack on the woman. One of the accused was recently found dead in his cell, prison authorities said, raising questions about jail monitoring and security.
The assault triggered nationwide protests, a toughening of rape laws and an intense debate about rampant crime against women in India. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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