In India, a 25-year-old man was arrested suspected of raping a girl on the grounds of the US embassy in the capital New Delhi. The Indian man was arrested on Sunday, but the case has only just come out.
According to police, the Indian girl of five was playing on the heavily guarded embassy grounds when she was coaxed by the man. Her parents were not at home at that time. They live on the embassy grounds, because the father works in the household there. The 25-year-old man also lives on the property because his father has a job there.
The police assume that the families of the perpetrator and the girl know each other well.
A spokesperson for the American embassy reacted shocked and said immediate measures were taken. “We work with the Indian authorities and support the child and her family.” If he is convicted, the suspect can receive the death penalty.
Sexual violence is a major problem
Sexual violence against women is a major problem in India. Figures from the government show that around 34,000 rapes were registered in 2018. That is more than 90 rapes per day. One in four victims is a child. According to human rights activists, the figures are the tip of the iceberg and many cases are not reported or registered.
One of the most controversial rape cases is the rape of a 23-year-old student in 2012. She was attacked by six men in a bus in New Delhi, assaulted, raped and thrown out of the bus. She later died of the consequences of her injuries. The case caused a lot of fuss. The perpetrators were to death convicted. Due to a pardon request, the execution is indefinite postponed.
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