Three Indian men have appeared in court following the gang rape of a Spanish tourist on a motorbike trip with her husband. Police are searching for four other suspects involved in the brutal assault that took place on Friday night in Jharkhand state’s Dumka district. A total of seven men are accused in the attack, with three already remanded in custody after being escorted into court with sacks on their heads. The Spanish woman and her husband were also present at the hearing, and local police are determined to ensure strict punishment for the perpetrators. A special team has been formed to investigate the crime scene, with the aim to arrest the remaining suspects soon.
India has seen an alarming rate of reported rapes, with nearly 90 cases per day in 2022. However, many incidents go unreported due to stigma and distrust in the justice system. The gang rape and murder of Jyoti Singh in 2012 brought global attention to the issue of sexual violence in India, leading to protests and changes in the law to introduce the death penalty for rape.