Magazine intern gang-raped in reprisal for taking photos

Reporters Without Borders is deeply shocked by yesterday’s gang-rape of an English-language magazine’s young trainee photo-journalist in Mumbai. The organization also condemns the beating that the journalist accompanying her received from her attackers. “We are appalled by this horrendous attack, carried out just a few minutes after she was taking to task verbally for what she was doing as a photographer,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The authorities must do everything possible to identify and arrest those responsible for this crime and bring them to trial. They must also guarantee the safety of journalists and ensure that this form of attack, one of the worst banes of Indian society, does not recur.” The photo-journalist and her colleague had gone to the Shakti Mills business district yesterday evening for a report and were photographing two old buildings when they were stopped by five individuals, who accused them of trespassing on private property. They then beat the man and went on to gang-rape the photo-journalist, who is now in Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital. The photo-journalist was able to provide the police with the first names of two of her assailants. The police later announced that they had already arrested a suspect who had given them the names of his four accomplices during interrogation. Photo : PUNIT PARANJPE / AFP