Police in the Indian resort state of Kerala have arrested two suspects in connection with the gang rape of a tourist. Two residents, aged 28 and 39, are in custody in connection with the case.
The victim was a 44-year-old California woman who arrived in Kerala on July 22 and stayed at the Amritapuri Ashram, a well-known spiritual practice site, and a tourist attraction. However, her intentions were far from the usual tourist holiday.
According to the police, the youngest of the accused met a woman on the beach near the ashram and offered her to drink alcohol. Perhaps the drink also contained narcotic substances – at least the woman quickly lost the ability to resist. She was then taken by two suspects on a bicycle to an abandoned building where incidents of sexual assault occurred.
However, the woman managed to escape and returned to the ashram, where she reported the incident to the authorities. The police accepted her statement and an investigation began. Medical examination also confirmed her words.
The youngest of the suspects was detained a few hours after the incident. According to the police, he has “on account” of many criminal offenses.