5 in India arrested for raping a tourist

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NEW DELHI, March 17 (UPI) -- Police said Sunday they arrested five men who allegedly admitted to raping a Swiss woman in central India.

"We have arrested five persons who raped the Swiss woman and recovered her mobile and laptop," Deputy Inspector General D.K. Arya told the Press Trust of India.

The woman and her husband arrived in India on Feb. 3 and were camping in India's Datia district when a group of men allegedly beat the husband and raped the woman, CNN reported.

The couple went to police and the woman was hospitalized and later released. They are staying in Datia district while the investigation continues, Arya said.

Of the 20 people pulled in for questioning by police, five confessed, Arya said.

The five men were identified as Baba, Bhutha, Rampro, Gaza, who also goes by Brajesh, and Vishnu Kanjar, the Press Trust of India reported.

"The sixth accused identified as Nitin Kanjar is absconding and we are hopeful of arresting him soon," Arya said.

Linus von Castelmur, the Swiss ambassador to India, said he had spoken with the couple and offered support.

"Their health and treatment is the priority of the moment," the ambassador said in a statement. "The embassy has also been in touch with the local authorities and has requested for swift investigation and for justice to be done."

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Uma Shankar Gupta said the incident "is unfortunate for our nation."

"When foreign tourists come, they should inform the [superintendent of police] about their plans. This is the system but it is not being followed," he added.

The attack comes after an Indian woman was brutally gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi. She later died in Singapore while receiving medical treatment.

That incident prompted protests across India calling for stricter laws on sexual assault and changes in cultural attitudes toward women.