A Swiss tourist was gang-raped on Friday near the Civil Lines police station in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, police sources told The Hindu. The 39-year-old woman and her partner were on a cycling trip from central to north India, when eight men attacked the couple. The sources confirmed that the medical examination indicated, prima facie, that the woman was “brutally raped.” The attackers also robbed the couple.
After spending the day in the picturesque Orchha town, known for its several forts and temples, the couple were camping about 250 metres off National Highway 75, a furlong from the local police station, inside the forest. According to local journalists, a few villagers had met the couple on Friday evening as they arrived. However, seven or eight men came back later with clubs and, after an altercation, started beating up the man.
The attackers “tied up the man and gang-raped the woman in his presence,” DIG (Chambal Range) D.K. Arya told The Hindu. Once the woman’s complaint was registered, she was taken to Gwalior district for a medical test around 8 a.m. as Datia does not have lady doctors to conduct medical tests. By midday, the test was conducted and rape was “informally” confirmed by a three-member panel of doctors at the Kamalaraje Women and Children’s Hospital in Gwalior. Later, the woman was brought back to Datia. “She is with us in Datia and out of danger,” Mr. Arya said.
The DIG confirmed that, so far, “50-60 villagers” from Datia and adjoining areas had been detained and a massive operation launched to nab the culprits. The attackers stole Rs. 12,000 and a mobile phone from the woman, the sources said.
In 2003, a 36-year-old female Swiss diplomat was abducted from the car park of a popular New Delhi auditorium by two men, who drove away with her, raped her and dropped her off nearby. No one has been convicted for that attack.
Embassy calls for probe
New Delhi Special Correspondent writes:
The Swiss embassy, which has been in touch with the local authorities, called for swift investigation and justice in the incident.
Swiss ambassador Linus von Castelmur spoke to the victim and her partner and assured them of all possible support. Their health and treatment is the priority at the moment, said embassy officials. “The embassy is most distressed over the incident,” the Swiss ambassador said in a statement.
Keywords: Madhya Pradesh gang-rape, Swiss national, sexual assault, Datia
The parents should educate their sons in early age (3-4 years). The boys must know few rules:
e.g. 1) when a girl (women) says stop, then it means he has to stop. (more respect)
2) if a man needs some sexual setisfacion, he must not rape a women.
Every mother should teach her boy how to treat the female person. She should know how hard it is.
So the resposobility is not of the law and the police but also of the parents, school, etc.
I think neither the Indian tradition nor any religion may allow the raping of any women, children, etc.
To Emma: "I don't think it is fair to believe that this scenario would only happen in India". Who believes that ? Of course it does not, but do we have to start any criticism with this caveat? What does it bring to the discussion of the problem ? Are we still in the colonial paradigm that we should feel demeaning India ? It is an assessment of the Indian context that may start a turn towards the better. The progressive and intelligent coverage of the reactions to the Delhi gang-rape by the Hindu testifies to that. Commentators are right to concentrate on it. They behave as responsible adults the world over: they know they have to start by "sweeping in front of their doorstep" as the French advice goes.
As for "reading the scenario... the tourists were very foolish and ignorant". Given that they were a couple, tourists, "near the Civil Lines police station", how much should they have "planned, researched the area and did a risk assessment" to avoid this rape? Would a poll have helped?
It is yet another shameful act from Indians. I am ashamed and want to apologize on behalf of Indians to the couple.
Let us face it! How would the outrage be if an Indian origin woman is
assaulted in Switzerland? Shame on India! Even worse, we don't know the
offenders of 2003 incident!
Its not about India, Rape is a crime which can happen in any part of
the world.Of course India being a country with such a large population
is more prone to crimes, be it a murder or a rape. We should remember
that the number of murders are much larger than rape, which is a more
heinous crime any day.
While the Swiss woman who suffered with such a tragedy should get all
the help and support and the culprits should be severely punished,
swearing at India is not sensible.
What we can see after Delhi rape is that both print and electronic
media are getting flooded with rape news. While media played a
positive role in presenting public anger against rape, I think it
should show some restraint from too much reporting of rape, This rater
than helping, makes things only worse by enhancing fear and tarnishing
the image of country. Yes we need better laws and more strict
provisions but comparing law and order conditions in India with
European countries is impractical.
As someone who lives in Europe, I strongly suggest that in the interests of foreign
tourists and the need to stop further damage to the already tarnished reputation of
India, the government should scale back the "Incredible India" tourism campaign. At
least until Indian men - who are not in the Armed Forces - stop behaving as if the
AFSPA protection applied also to them.
Another shameful act which severely erodes the notions of safety of women in India and the refinement of the common Indian. Whilst we must do everything, in terms of medical aid to the victims in both areas - phyical and psychological recuperation, the criminals should be punished in the harshest method. The crime of rape is totally unacceptable and in this case it is even worse as it was a deliberate and premitated act of unbridled lust that first violently incapacitated the man, and the only possible source of defence, to profanely sully the integrity, physically and mentally, of a hapless woman.
We have become - nay, some of us are - a shameless and lowly people.
Sad...very sad..it's another perfect example for the rest of the world to beleive India still is an UNCIVILIZED nation. Technology,education,religion or so called Indian culture make no difference in people's lives.
Shameful incident....still shameful, when i read that year 2003 case had
no convicts still...
The Unfortunate , Coward , Shameful act of the Anti Social Elements
have really let down the image of India at International Platform by
Gang Raping a Swiss Female International Tourist and beating her
husband .The Safety and Security of the Females is in Question as the
incident has shocked the Global in regard to the Safety and Security
of the Females . The Union and State Government should take strict
action against the culprits and the verdict announced should be an eye
-opener for the others who have tried to tarnish the Indian Image at
International Platform .
This is very sad. The culprits should be brought to book. Justice must be provided to
the innocent victims. Such cases are going to hurt India's image as a cultured nation.
With so many rape incidents lately, it's time for revisiting India's human right violations.
Will we ever wake up !!! will there be a day where women would feel
safe in India... Its such a shame that even guests are not spared..Lets
not our country become the most dreaded place for women on earth..Sadly
enough, I guess its already on its way to become one :(
what are exact reasons behind sudden rise in series of rapes should be find out.is that alcohol the reason for rapes , it cant be bcoz ppl are used to it from centuries, or short dresses but babies and old women dont wear shorts or unrestricted streaming of porns adult clips on internet or viagra like sex arousing medicines.now days laptops and pc has become cheap and porn movies are at easy reach of every person, why rapist dont afraid of laws if they caught they can be severely punished. how the group of men come together on common thought and carry out heinous acts for little enjoyment of some minutes and ruining the life of innocent, i feel the main reason is free unrestricted streaming of porn videos over the internet at any time you see them and feel like aroused .. instantly just block the access to such adult sites for rape prone cities like delhi by govt of delhi for 6 months, see results , implement such ban on rapeful cities by local govt. but remember there is no need to enforce such action on cities which are quiet , peaceful and have less crime history
"Incredibly horrible India! Come and experience a 3000 year-old
civilization that has remained largely unchanged in that time." That is
what our tourism slogan should be. Saw a picture of the victim being
made to walk into a police station. Was there no wheel chair? This is a
rape victim. Just seeing her bend her knees and shuffle forward is
painful! And doesn't our media have the decency to give her some privacy
at this point. The fear in her face is palpable behind her veil. How
much more complacent can we get?
Shame!!! Its nowdays shameful for me to say that i come from India. When people get to know I am from India, the first thing that they ask me is about the rapes in India. It just feels so shameful.
This is truly awful news. However, reading the scenario, I cannot help but believe the tourists were very foolish and ignorant. The consequences of their actions definately could have been avoided if they had planned, researched the area and did a risk assessment. I don't think it is fair to believe that this scenario would only happened in India. I can think of manu countries, including Britain where it would have been possible! I pray for justice for the couple and a full physical and emotional recovery for them both.
It is said that "INDIA is full of culture and traditions"!!!
Incredible India.
Where is our culture ????
Instead of protecting the guest (foreigners) in our home - mother
land we ill treat them in various ways rape,loots, frauds etc...
Is this a way we welcome them or set an example to them about us...
Interesting to see that the first thing a few commenters talk about is what this does
to the image of India. That is not the main issue. The main issue is the rape victim,
the woman. As long as we Indians don't get that, we don't get the meaning of what's
it to be a human.
Appalling!
This pattern of behaviour will become an epidemic as long as Bollywood
movies and TV programs continue to pedal sex and violence as
entertainment. People soak up such filth, fatacize and enact
naturally. Afterall behavior is a conditioning of the mind by the
environment in which we live. Stop bad programming and get our
cultural values back for re-transformation.
On top of all this there is a proposal to bring down the age of
consentual sex!! God help the country!
With so much porn on the net and absolutely no cencorship to it,what else can we expect.And so many smartphones out there which can make anybody an idiot rather than a smart person,by doing such crimes.Time for some changes in the internet censorship.I wonder what is holding it back in India??
This is very shameful incident for all the people of India. I urge to
our government please make and implement a strict law to stop this kind
of crime. They people are really mentally sick. Rather than respect of
tourists, they are behaving like animal.
Nothing surprising,we have probably not realised that Indian culture
has undergone transformation over the last decade or so.The Eastern
culture(once a pride of this part of the world) was abandoned and lead
to westernized culture copy catted without much thinking and soul
searching.Half of Bollywood films and TV soaps have been cultivating
culture of hooliganism and rape mentality,where the villain or
Khalnaik was eulogized as some thing big and symbol of muscularity.For
immature youth searching for jobs and identity in the poor
neighborhoods of our cities and villages,rape has become an expression
of anger and frustration.As the yawning class gap between haves and
havenots is reaching a breaking point,the bewildered youth is becoming
disillusioned and frustrated.On one side we have some cultural
warriors disguised as Hinduvta moral flag bearers beating innocent
young girls for not following norms of prescribed morality,on the
other side are gangs of youth committing heinous crimes.
i live in austria and doing my masters here. i take pride in telling
about indian mythology and diversity which exists in my country to my
international friends over here and i proudly proclaim here that i am an
indian.for the very first time in my life on 17,december-2012 i felt
ashamed to be an indian
My pride being Indian is now hurting. This is not the country I grew up in. Where is respect for women? where is that Indian pride that protects women? Today, I am ashamed to be an Indian. Hindu, Muslim or any other religion does not teach this kind of act. Shame....Shame....Shame
Not a day passes without a news of rape in India. This is a sign of a
deep malaise - it is legal and societal in nature. We can have debates,
committees and take years to study this issue, but until there is swift
action, nothing will change.
1) We need to rewrite the Indian Penal Code to make sure rapists, child
abusers and employers who harass employees sexually, get at-least 15 to
25 years in jail. Such punishment should be mandatory as it is, in some
states of the USA, not left to the judge to decide.
2) The politician-criminal-police nexus has to be broken to make sure
judicial process is transparent and clear, and free of interference.
3) Forensic labs need to be modernized and staffed properly for swift
investigation, prosecution and conviction of rapists.
Let us not bring politics in this by saying the rights of the states
would be usurped by the federal government. It is about crime an
criminals and all of us have a responsibility to end this malaise.
Ethics, values, and morality has to be taught & nurtured in all walks of
the society. It does not matter if we are growing economically or
intellectually, values & ethics are going down. Corruptions, rape,
killings are ethical & moral issues that need to be dealt with. Teach
kids (and even adults if need to be) to respect others feelings. People
should NOT think that they can get whatever they want as they wish, let
alone it is someone's money, someone's wife or whatever.
I think a lot of Indians need to bear some sort of responsibility for
the atrocious act. Many parents in India raise boys differently
compared to girls. There are given extra attention, extra love, even
extra food at times, all at the expense of the young girl. They grow
up feeling entitled, that they are better than women and women are
just mere objects. Even when the parents die they give their land and
possessions all to the son, while the girls are married off and in the
"possesion" of their new husband's. So this comes to me as no
surprise. This upbringing has led to many men in india being
chauvinistic and misogynisitic. (Now I know I shouldn't generalize all
Indian men are bad and that we have hugely diverse country with 32
official languages and whatever 56 religions and all the jazz) but
this patriarchy exists in many parts of India. I find it hard to
defend India anymore and call this an islolated incident.
I just want to urge all non-indians to not visit this place anymore because it will be a risky affair. India which boasts about guests being treated as God, must stop all saying such fake statements. India is no more a cultured and decent country. It is infact a land of perverts. All I can see is majority of Indian men treat women just as a sex object and nothing else. Shameful and ridiculous.
I wish I read more about feeling sorry for the victim than for India. What if she is not Indian? Does she suffer less?
It is not surprising that criminal activities like this are happening in India. This not going to end as long as the Corrupt Congress govt. is in Delhi, because this govt. is raping the nation every day and getting away with it. No hope for India.
The selective reproduction of males, practiced by many Indian families, instead of the natural
balance, is creating a dearth of females in the Indian society,which is giving rise to such
occurances. The government can not prevent the female fracticide.
Over and above this problem, excessive intoxication takes away any sence of right and
wrong giving rise to such crimes. Indians should look into the practice of free availability of
Alcohol to control the situation.
Such shameful men of our country bring disgrace to all of us. Are our men so starved of sex that they are prepared to be criminals ???
It is high time that India follows the laws enacted by Arab countries
for similar offences against women and judgement executed within a
fortnight time.
There are criminals in each country. One should be cognizant of the fact and should take adequate precautions. Indian is still a developing country, with it share of problem. When we go out, we don't sleep in unsafe places. I feel sad for the Swiss couple and hope that in future people like this are given adequate warnings both from their country's embassy and Indian tourism department.
It has got something to do with very basic problem in our country:
Uncontrolled population growth coupled with poor parenting. It is the
root cause of all problems in India. Especially improper/absence of
parenting leads to growth of less civilized population. Many people
who cannot afford basic amenities for themselves have the burden of
up-bringing 3 or 4 children. It is anyone's guess how these children
will grow up. Somehow they physically grow up and become adults, but
they do not grow up mentally, socially, and psychologically, and so
they become less of social and more of animal (Man is a "social
animal"). Given a chance, there is a greater probability of these
people behaving like animals.
Shame on India! Until the society and the govt cannot get a handle on
this abominable situation I hope they would suspend the 'Incredible
India' tourist campaign, it just sounds so macabre and out of place in
the backdrop of such heinous crimes against women and tourists. India is
not shining, India is not incredible, in fact the level of violence
against women be it sexual or acid attack is incredible and not fitting
of a country calling itself civilized or having an old civilization and
a rich culture.
First, I would like to congratulate the media for quickly bringing
such cancerous events to public. As for the image of our country, I
believe these kind of incidents have been happening for a while and
its only in recent years (months) that we have started to protest
against it as a nation. The general population did not change
overnight, the cancer has metastasized. The long held perception of
"This won't happen to us" has blown away. And this raising attention
towards ethical issues are a result of increasing involvement of women
population over past 10-15 years in various sectors of society. Better
late than never. People commenting here can only hope and express
their unhappiness.
Yes Indian is incredible where it is only said that "padharo mare desh" means please come to my place/country, but in reality the things are opposite to that or not even closer to that, foreign tourists are heavily cheated by local shops keepers and tourist agents,i condemn this incident and demand justice for Swiss couple, we Indians should hang our heads in shame that such things are happening with people who are on a tour for a cause and sport, I don't believe in Incredible India campaign, its a tool to artificially air brush the image of India as far as safety of citizens and women in particular is concerned
We all have to hang our heads in Shame
Hang them in PUBLIC. What a Shame?
- There is a rape in every 10 minutes
- Mafia becoming ministers and killing Police Officers
- Fake encounters in the name of protecting politicians
- Bragging whose religion is the best and killing people in
the name of religion
- Educated fanatics commenting on some of the indian online
sites about other religion
Not sure where India is going.
Young India, If you can't wakeup, you will be doomed.
This trend is becoming very dangerous for India and Indians entirely in the eyes of the world, who is to blame for this perversion? Society, Films, what is happening to these men? why is there scant respect for Women in India in this recent past? Snails pace of the Judicial system and not up to International Standards of local policing adds up to such crimes, where in these people who commit such crimes can get away very easily unless there is pressure from the press and the local community. Punishment for such crimes should be fast tracked.
Jai Hind
As an Indian, I feel ashamed and disgusted. My commiserations to the sufferers. Hope the rapists are appropriately punished.
No matter how many laws we are going to write into our law books,there
will be change only when he have a system that implements these laws.
The system is completely rotten and no new law is going to stop the rot!
We need urgent overhauling of our system, and by system I mean the
political and administrative systems.
These instances hold India in a very bad light in the international arena. The stance of Italy on not sending back its marines is mainly due to the law and order and blind justice in India. Indian judiciary doesn't need to be so proud of its set up, if seen thousands of murderers are let scot free for lack of evidence.
When the Delhi rape case became a national rage, why the muted response for a victim from another country?
One cannot understand the psychological trauma the Swiss woman is undergoing. The woman was gangraped by a group of eight unidentified persons.
Raping a woman is a monstrous crime and must be punished. I just think of the young Indian woman who was raped in Delhi and passed away in Singapore. The nationality of a woman is not important, important is to make India a safe place for women.
The married couple from Switzerland spent their holiday in India and now they face a nightmare with tremendous difficulties for both.
The raped Swiss woman suffers from a trauma and undergoing a trauma therapy takes a long time, often years and it is not clear if she will have the strength and will to undergo this psychological treatment.
A trauma therapy demands a lot from the patient and not everyone can cope with terrible situations during the therapy, especially when the therapist and the patient come to the point and the patient undergoes the gruesome situation again.
That can cause dangerous side effects.
A lot must be done to make India a better place for women. I deeply regret and I am always sorry to learn when children or women are abused or raped.
The justice system should act immediately and sentence perpetrators to maximum imprisonment. India is the biggest democracy on earth and therefore the Government of India must act immediately to protect women all over India.
Women have the right to feel safe when they ride a bus or train. It is unbearable for every democratic state not to be able to protect children and women.
Mahatma Gandhi, The Father of The Nation, had a dream and visions and by his peaceful actions, he was able to free India.
He dreamt of a peaceful and stable India, with opportunities for all. He wanted harmony, joy, peace, dignity, respect and tolerance and mutual understanding.
We should take Mahatma Gandhi as a shining example to make the world a better place and safer for children and women.
I lost all hope that India can ever claim and boast about its so-called
cultural and spiritual greatness, civilisation, etc. No more words to
say. Totally left ashamed as a citizen of India.
Only if those poor souls, our girls who has suffered this inhumane
barbaric act would have known their fate well before, they would have
opted to abort on their own inside their mother's womb. .
If i see a man who treats his wife / women like princess, well, i
understand that he should have been brought up by a queen.. i leave the
responsibility of raising a true man with today's mothers.
Let's see how the government treats these savages. Do NOT travel in India.
Yet this is a country where a cow is still sacred?
This incident points out yet again to an extremely serious social and psychological malaise in our country. On the one hand are the growing instances of sexual violence on women, and on the other, the pattern of perpetrating such horrific violence as a 'group'. Debates cannot end with mere demands of (and hopefully, eventual) punishment of the guilty people. A deeper inquiry into the largely sexual, but also social and cultural aspects leading to such abhorrent behavior needs to be undertaken at various levels in order to curb such shameful incidents.
I am a student in Germany and when my international friends inquire
about such issues in India, I am left ashamed. Most of the times I am
boasting Indian culture while taking pride in it, but such incidents
make me ponder about some serious dearth in our cultural values, in our
upbringing.
Currently I am not at all proud to be an Indian..Incredible India...
What is the deal with India and rape?
In my country we don't often hear about Indian news, but the last months it's all been about violence and bestial rape. Is that how your image should be?
Disgusting beasts are roaming everywhere. We are getting the reputaion
of a filthy society where women are raped, tortured, killed. Gone are
the days when we were boasting ourselves as a very old civilization.
If the things will continue like this no body will venture in our
country. When there will be tough law to protect girl child and stop
infanticide of girl child?
Has the Indian Govt got the gumption to start by cleaning up the
Parliament, the State Assemblies, top Bureaucracy, Police. Or is that too hot a potato to handle under the "Convention of Political Compulsions"?
It is shocking. It is pathetic. Living in fear in the midst of all these nasty things. I am
even afraid to open my apartment door now. Beasts are wandering everywhere. It is
all the fault of our administrative-law-judiciary-eduction system. Very sad!
Though laws are there their implementation is very poor. The people to
police ratio is very bad in our country. They are overburdened. Due to
law and order problems increasing and arriving due to multiple causes,
police reforms should be done forthwith
Rape of a visitor. All this in a country where the government through
its Tourism Department of India runs the Atithi Devo Bhavah campaign
part of their Incredible India theme. Shame.
More of these shames will happen because the culprits are still enjoying the protection of our famous law. Shame on you India
If not already, India will soon earn a sobriquet of 'Rape-Heaven'. Delhi is already called the 'Rape Capital' and it might earn the title for the world too.
If ordinary Indian psyche is descending into being beastly, then law will need to address it at that level.
It is a foolish ideal to not punish the beasts severely. The Hindu will do better by pushing for better and faster legal adjudication.
again the same. where is rules and laws which will abstain these brutal
rapists for committing such type of things.Please standardize the laws
and fix time bound from the day of rape to implementation of punishment.
these things will lower our country name. Please help each other and
protect over women.
perpetrators should be dealt with harshest possible punishment.This
incident shows that women are always vulnerable irrespective of the
country they belong to or whether or not they are married.Harsh
punishment should be meted out to serve as an example that India as a
society can never tolerate such savage incidents.
It is such a shameful act. Now foreigner will think twice to visit India.
Now the Government will initiate a trial that goes on for another three years when
the victim and the family are tired of everything and go dejected!!! God save Bharath
India for the ineffective judicial system. Shame on us:(
Incredible India - land of so called Hindu goddesses, land of raksha
bhandhan, land of dharti maa.
I am of Indian origin and have been living abroad for over forty years. I have heard India being criticized for many thing, people talking about India in a down grading manner on many issues....but one thing was always sure....Indians were considered as decent and civilised people no matter how poor, how backwards in some ideas etc etc. With all that's coming out on rape since Dec, try now to convince some one that we Indians are a decent folk....God, what a shameful situation !
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