Fifth suspect in Mumbai photographer gang-rape arrested
Police officials escort an accused, head covered with black cloth, in the gang rape of a young photojournalist in the Indian financial hub of Mumbai, Aug. 24, 2013.Indian police say they have arrested the last of five men wanted in connection with the gang rape of a female photojournalist in Mumbai.
Police arrested the fifth suspect Sunday in New Delhi, the capital, after capturing the other four in Mumbai.
Family members of one of the suspects say he is a juvenile. Police are investigating the actual age of the suspect. As a juvenile, he would face lighter sentencing than the other suspects if he is found guilty of the charges.
Medical officials say the victim of Thursday\’s attack, who is in her early 20s, is hospitalized in stable condition.
Officials say five men attacked the woman while she was photographing an abandoned textile mill, along with a male colleague. The male journalist was reported to have been tied up while the assault on the woman took place.
The rape in Mumbai has evoked memories of a similar crime committed on a moving bus against a woman in December in New Delhi who later died of injuries sustained in the attack.
The gang allegedly tied the male colleague up using a belt before repeatedly raping the woman.
The Times of India newspaper quoted her as saying "rape is not the end of life."
The two suspects picked up overnight and two others arrested earlier are likely to face prosecution under a new law that sets the maximum prison term for rape at 20 years.
Mumbai police made the first arrest on Friday and arrested another two on Saturday, he said.
Earlier Saturday, one of the suspects was remanded in custody after appearing in court.
His grandmother told media he was only 16 and should be tried as a juvenile. Police initially said he was in his 20s.
After December\’s attack, which triggered nationwide protests, India passed laws increasing punishments for violence against women.
The trial of attackers from December has not yet concluded.
Source: Agencies
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