NEW DELHI: Indian police said Tuesday that 17 men have been arrested for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl over several weeks, in the country’s latest horrific sexual assault case.
The girl, who has a hearing disability, was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a largely unoccupied apartment block in the southern city of Chennai.
Among those arrested were the 300-flat building’s security guards, plumber and elevator operator, state police said.
The 66-year-old lift operator was the first to attack the girl after she returned from school and was cycling around the complex, police said.
He allegedly invited other men who filmed each other raping the child. As the ordeal progressed she was sedated with injections and drug-laced soft drinks, reports said.
“This is the initial stage of investigation and we have to go in-depth to ascertain the details,” a local police official told AFP.
According to local reports, the accused took the girl to various places in the complex including the basement, terrace, gym and public restrooms to rape her.
The incident came to light after the girl told her family who then lodged a police complaint. She is now receiving medical attention.
India has a grim record of sexual violence. Some 19,000 attacks on minors were reported in 2016, but vast numbers are never brought to police attention.
In January India was rocked by a particularly shocking attack when an eight-year-old girl died after being kidnapped, drugged and gang-raped for days at a Hindu temple.
This led to the introduction of the death sentence for the rape girls under the age of 12.
Indian minor raped by 17 men over weeks
Indian minor raped by 17 men over weeks
- Some 19,000 attacks on minors were reported in 2016, but vast numbers go unreported
- Among those arrested were security guards, a plumber and elevator operator, state police said
Trump says US will deal with Greenland ‘easy way’ or ‘hard way’
- Trump says controlling the mineral-rich island is crucial for US national security given the rising military activity of Russia and China in the Arctic
WASHINGTON, United States: US President Donald Trump on Friday again suggested the use of force to seize Greenland as he brushed aside Denmark’s sovereignty over the autonomous Arctic island.
“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” Trump said at a White House meeting with oil executives looking to benefit in Venezuela, where the United States last week overthrew the president.
“I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” Trump said when asked of Greenland.
Trump says controlling the mineral-rich island is crucial for US national security given the rising military activity of Russia and China in the Arctic.
“We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way.”
Both countries have increased military activity in the Arctic region in recent years, but neither has laid any claim to the vast icy island.
Denmark and other European allies have voiced shock at Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, where the United States already has a military base.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an invasion of Greenland would end “everything,” meaning NATO and the post-World War II security structure.
Trump made light of the concerns of Denmark, a steadfast US ally that joined the United States in the controversial 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“I’m a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. And you know, they’ve been very nice to me,” Trump said.
“But you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet next week with Denmark’s foreign minister and representatives from Greenland.
