Five more people were arrested in connection with the gangrape of a Spanish national in Dumka district of Jharkhand even as the survivor left Dumka along with her husband on their bikes amid heavy security.
This has taken the total number of those arrested to eight. The foreign national had, in her FIR, said seven people were involved.
Talking to reporters for the first time since the crime took place on March 1 at a semi-forested area in Kurumahat locality under Hansdiha police station where the couple were camping for the night, the survivor said the assault left a deep scar but won’t change her positive perception about India or its people.
She and her husband (63) were escorted by Jharkhand Police to the Bihar border from Dumka Circuit House. Bihar Police will assist them in reaching Nepal, the original destination of their world bike tour. Dumka district administration, meanwhile, provided Rs 10 lakh as compensation even as Jharkhand high court took suo moto cognisance of the crime on Monday and will hear the case on March 7.
Jarmundi SDPO, who is leading the SIT that investigated the crime, said, “Five fresh arrests have been made taking the total count of those in custody to eight. The eighth person is the one who assisted the seven others in the crime.”
On March 1, the couple reached Dumka for a brief halt en-route to Nepal via Bihar when the seven youths waylaid and assaulted them. The woman was then gangraped, triggering a global outrage.
The couple also took selfies with officials in Dumka and appreciated the govt for handling the situation swiftly.
On their choice of halting in Dumka at a secluded location, she said, “We found this place calm and beautiful to spend the night.” About their shocking ordeal, she said, “It would be hard to forget the horrific incident that happened with us, one should leave it behind and move ahead. Such incidents should not force anyone to live in constant fear or stop them from venturing out. I will keep travelling and won’t be afraid.”
