Indian Woman Gang-Raped Over Witchcraft Allegations

Indian police said on Monday in New Delhi that a woman was gang-raped, by six men in central India, for allegedly practising witchcraft.

Police confirmed that the 40-year-old woman was sexually assaulted, in a village in the central state of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday night, and was admitted to hospital for treatment.

Mohammad Qureshi, Shivpuri District Police Chief, said the six men were arrested following her complaint on Sunday.

“Medical tests confirmed the sexual assault and all the accused are members of the same village,” he said.

Qureshi said some villagers suspected the woman of practising witchcraft because of which people had fallen ill and some children had died.

“It was a brutal assault. The woman says that nobody came to her help when she was being raped and tortured,” Qureshi said.

India has been increasingly under the spotlight over incidents of sexual violence against women.

In 2012, the fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi led to a massive public outcry and tougher laws.

However, sexual crimes continue unabated and concerns are rising over the lack of safety for women.

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