Taking suo motu cognisance of reports related to the gangrape of a Brazilian tourist by seven men in Dumka district, the Jharkhand High Court on Monday sought a report from the State Director General of Police (DGP), the Chief Secretary and Dumka’s Superintendent of Police in the matter.
The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Navneet Kumar took cognisance of the matter after President of the Jharkhand High Court Advocates Association Ritu Kumar tendered copies of various news reports on the incident before the Court.
The Bench observed that crimes against a foreign national may have serious national and international repercussions, and could also impact the tourism economy of the country.
It said a sex-related crime against a foreign woman was likely to bring adverse publicity against the country, thereby tarnishing the image of India across the globe.
The High Court noted that as it read from the newspaper reports, ‘X’ was a Spanish-speaking person and it was not known whether she was provided with the facility of a translator to record her statement.
It further said that in view of the amendments made in the Code of Criminal Procedure and emphasis on scientific investigation in cases of offences relating to rape, there was an urgent need to seek a report from the Superintendent of Police at Dumka as to the progress of investigation so far conducted in the matter.
As per media reports, the incident took place on March 1, when the Brazilian woman and her husband, who were on a motorbike tour, halted in Dumka for the night. Soon after, the woman posted a video on her Instagram page, narrating the horrific incident. She said that seven men raped her and beat up her husband.
The Jharkhand police said that it has areested four of the seven accused and launched a manhunt for the remaining three men.