Spanish Influencer's bike tour with husband, gangraped in Jharkhand.
In a tragic incident in Dumka district, Jharkhand, a Spanish influencer and her husband were on a bike tour in India when she was brutally gang-raped. The horrifying attack happened on March 1 and 2 while she slept peacefully in her tent. It turned her safe space into a nightmare.
Despite the pain, there’s hope as the police have arrested three suspects after a complaint was filed. But the shockwaves of this awful crime resonate on social media, sparking anger and outrage.
The 28-year-old tourist and her 64-year-old husband were riding on a motorbike tour when they fell victim to an attack by a group of men in the Dumka district of Jharkhand, an eastern state, on Friday night. Prior to the incident, they had journeyed to Pakistan and Bangladesh as part of their exploration of South Asia, and were heading north towards Nepal at the time.
Let’s stand with the victim and her family in solidarity. May this outcry not only seek justice for her but also push us toward a world where such horrors are just bad memories, and everyone, regardless of who they are, can travel without fear.
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Following the crime against the Spanish Influencer and Her Husband, the Local police sprang into action with urgency
In the depths of the night in Jharkhand’s Dumka, a Spanish influencer endured the unspeakable horror of gangrape, a chilling confirmation from the authorities. The dreadful episode unfolded in Kurumahat under the watch of the Hansdiha police station. Shockingly, seven individuals were implicated in this vile act, and while three have been captured, the relentless pursuit to bring the remaining four to justice continues.
Superintendent of Police, Pitambar Singh Khairwar, bared the agonizing details of the victims’ journey to India Today. The couple, enthusiastic bikers, journeyed through the region, bound from West Bengal to Nepal. Seeking solace as evening fell, they sought refuge in Kunji village, Dumka, planning to continue their expedition to Bhagalpur, Bihar, before onward to Nepal. However, their peace was shattered when patrolling officers discovered them in distress along the main road.
This tragedy not only scars the Spanish Influencer’s body but also casts a pall of dread and uncertainty over travelers far and wide. It stands as a stark reminder of the lurking perils capable of shattering lives in an instant. As endeavors persist to secure justice for the victim and her spouse, may their resilience ignite a collective outcry against such abominations, guiding us toward a realm where safety and dignity reign supreme for all.
Another police official confirmed that additional suspects have been detained and are currently undergoing interrogation.
The incident has sparked widespread public outcry in India, with leaders from all political spectrums condemning the attack. Before departing the country, the couple was awarded Rs1 million (over £9,500) in compensation, and a photo of the husband receiving the check has stirred further outrage online.
A social worker named Anjula Murmu said about this heinous crime against the Spanish Influencer
Anjula Murmu, a social worker in Dumka who offered support to the victims, shared with The Independent, “The Spanish Influencer fiercely fought her attackers, but she was overpowered by the men who subjected her to repeated rape for nearly three hours. She was emotionally shattered but resilient, and the depth of her visible trauma is indescribable.”
According to Ms. Murmu, the couple entered India via the Pakistan border in Amritsar in mid-July and had been traveling throughout the country for the past six months. They are travel bloggers with a substantial following of over 600,000 people on Instagram. On Friday night, they had set up their tent amidst picturesque countryside, approximately 400km from Jharkhand’s state capital Ranchi.
“Their tent started shaking, and they heard voices around 7:30 pm when the victim’s male partner began recording a video as a precaution,” she added.
He responded with a ‘hello,’ and those outside reciprocated with a hello, initiating a brief conversation during which they appeared visibly intoxicated,” stated Ms. Murmu, who confirmed having seen the video recording.
The group initially departed but returned later with additional men, launching an attack on the tent.
“As soon as the Spanish Influencer and her husband emerged, they were assaulted. Some individuals restrained the man while others targeted the Spanish Influencer, who attempted to retrieve a knife from her shoe and sought refuge in the darkness to protect herself,” she explained.
Struggling to hold back tears, their faces marked with bruises, the couple shared a video on their Instagram, recounting how they were assaulted by seven men who held knives to their throats and sexually assaulted the Spanish Influencer while restraining her male partner.
“Seven men raped me. They beat us and robbed us, though not much was taken because their primary intent was to assault me, My face looks like this, but it’s not what hurts me the most. I thought we were going to die. Thank God we are alive,” she expressed in Spanish.
What were the results of the medical examination?
Khairwar revealed that the Spanish Influencer underwent a medical examination, a crucial step in understanding the extent of her trauma. To delve deeper into this horrifying ordeal, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been assembled, with forensic experts lending their expertise to the inquiry.
Jharkhand superintendent of police Khairwar said it was a shameful incident and that local officials were in touch with the Spanish embassy, and providing them updates.
“We are disheartened by this shameful incident that occurred in Dumka and doing everything to nab all the culprits,” he said.
It’s heart-wrenching to learn that the Spanish Influencer and her husband embarked on a grand adventure across Asia, beginning with Pakistan, then Bangladesh, and finally arriving in Dumka, India. Their dream journey was meant to continue to Nepal from Jharkhand.
As the Spanish woman fights for her life in the hospital at Saraiyahat Community Health Centre (CHC), one can only imagine the agony she endures and the strength she summons to persevere.
Khairwar’s presence at the crime scene since Friday night speaks volumes about the gravity of the situation and the commitment of law enforcement to seek justice.
With the investigation underway, detained individuals undergo questioning, a crucial step towards unraveling the truth behind this heinous act. The pursuit of justice is fraught with emotions, a relentless quest for closure and accountability in the face of unspeakable cruelty.
Conclusion :
In 2022, India faced a harsh reality: nearly 90 rapes were reported every day, meaning one woman experienced such cruelty every 18 minutes. The National Crime Records Bureau recorded a total of 31,516 rape cases that year. States like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of reported cases.
These numbers show a serious problem of violence against women in India. But it’s important to know that many cases probably go unreported because of fear, shame, and pressure from society.
Also, very few rapists are convicted, which makes the problem worse. Survivors often don’t get the justice they deserve, which lets the criminals continue and keeps victims quiet.
In 2012, a horrible gang rape and murder on a bus in Delhi shocked India. People protested all over the country, demanding justice and change. The government had to change laws about sexual assault because of this. It was an important step to fight against gender-based violence.
But the fight isn’t finished yet. We need more than just new laws. We need to change our culture to make sure everyone, no matter their gender, is safe and respected. As a society, we must keep working to make a world where no one has to be afraid of sexual violence.
In this Instance case, the couple’s tough experience shows how important it is to get justice and think about how society can improve. Their story reminds us that travelers, especially women, face dangers like violence.
Even though they went through a lot of pain, the couple bravely shared what happened to them. This should push everyone to work together to make sure people exploring new places are safe.
Their strength in telling their story gives hope and encourages others to speak up against unfairness and push for change. Their bravery inspires people to stand together against violence and unfair treatment.
Despite all the challenges, their determination to hold people accountable and make others aware of what happened is powerful. It’s a reminder that everyone deserves to be safe and respected.
Jyoti Singh was born in Delhi on 10 May 1990, the eldest of three children and the only daughter of a lower-middle-class family. Her parents hailed from a small village in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.
The six accused then robbed the couple, after which they took the woman to the rear of the bus and brutally raped her one after another. The victim suffered unnatural sex and severe injuries to her private parts by an iron rod.
Nirbhaya said: “I want them hanged till death… I want to see them burnt alive.” Declaration 3 was recorded by a metropolitan magistrate four days later. This time Nirbhaya communicated with signs, gestures and nods. Her last words were reportedly to her father.
Ending a seven-year long wait for Nirbhaya’s family, a Delhi court on Tuesday issued death warrant for all the four convicts in the 2012 gang-rape and murder case. The four will be hanged on January 22 at 7am in Tihar jail.
Widely known as the Nirbhaya rape incident, it was a landmark case that led the Indian government to amend existing criminal laws on sexual violence and rape. The rape also came to transform the media landscape into a space of social activism.