A grueling attack on foreign travelers in Jharkhand has led to the apprehension of eight individuals. The Brazilian survivor and her Spanish husband, who were journeying across India, became the targets of a brutal assault and gangrape while they rested at an isolated campsite near Hansdiha market in Dumka district. On the night of the incident, the assailants, aged 19 to 24, carried out the horrific crime after the couple had settled down for the night in a forested area, roughly 2 km from the main road. The thwarted journey, which began in July and was intended to take the couple to Nepal, took an unexpected and violent turn.
Post-assault, the Jharkhand administration offered Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the couple, and the wife, holding a Spanish passport, publicly acknowledged the police’s swift action, calling for justice not only for herself but for all women who have endured similar ordeals. Despite the harrowing experience, the couple emphasized their overall positive experience in India, stating they would not let the actions of a few criminals tarnish their view of the country’s people or deter them from continuing their global expedition.
Notable Indian figures, including singer Chinmayi Sripaada and actors Dulquer Salmaan and Richa Chadha, responded to the news with disdain and a call for introspection. Sripaada drew attention to a collective shame that should be felt in light of the crime, echoing a sentiment of national responsibility. As the couple plans to continue their journey with unbroken spirits, the conversation around safeguarding tourists and women’s safety in India becomes ever more pressing.