Two brothers arrested in India over rape of Japanese tourist
Indian police have arrested two brothers accused of repeatedly raping a 22-year-old Japanese tourist over three weeks near Bodh Gaya, Buddhism’s holiest site, an official said on Saturday.
A preliminary investigation said the tourist had been held hostage at gunpoint in a secluded underground room close to a pilgrimage site.
A police officer who is part of the investigation told AFP on condition of anonymity: "When her health condition deteriorated due to repeated rape and poor living conditions, she was brought to Gaya (district headquarters) for medical treatment on Dec 20."
But she managed to escape and reached Varanasi.
There, she met some Japanese tourists who helped her contact the Japanese consulate in the nearby city of Kolkata, the officer added.
Arrested
Sajid Khan, 32, and his brother Jawed Khan, 25, both tourist guides, were arrested on Friday, police deputy superintendent Alok Kumar Singh said.
"We have arrested the duo for confining and raping the Japanese student," Mr Singh told AFP.
The Japanese woman, a university student, had come to Gaya from Kolkata where she had checked into a hotel in November.
The Bodh Gaya complex, 110km south of Bihar state capital Patna, is home to one of the earliest Buddhist temples still standing in India and attracts visitors from all over the world.
Source: AFP
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