Lost Danish tourist 'gang-raped' in Delhi

Indian police have made two arrests after a Danish tourist reported being gang-raped near the centre of New Delhi.

Indian police investigate the gang-rape of a Danish tourist

Indian police have made several arrests after a Danish woman reported being gang-raped in New Delhi. (AAP)

New Delhi police have arrested two homeless men over the alleged gang-rape of a 51-year-old Danish tourist who lost her way near the main backpacker's area of the Indian capital.

The woman approached the suspects for directions early on Tuesday evening while trying to return to her hotel in the bustling Paharganj district of the Indian capital, reportedly after visiting a city museum.

Up to six "youngsters" dragged her to a secluded part of a garden near the New Delhi railway station where they robbed and assaulted her at knife-point, police said.

She was travelling alone and had arrived in the capital on Monday after visiting the Taj Mahal in the northern city of Agra, staff at her hotel said.

"Two person(s) have been arrested in connection with rape case with Danish national," read a statement from the police late on Wednesday.

The alleged attack in an area popular with tourists in the heart of the city is the latest involving a foreigner in India, and again raises questions about the safety of women in the world's second most populous country.

Last month, India marked the first anniversary of the death of a student who was gang-raped on a moving bus in the capital in an attack that shocked the nation.

Despite tougher laws and efforts to change attitudes to women in India's deeply patriarchal society, the number of reported sex crimes continues to rise.

Police said both arrested men, one of whom was a 25-year-old migrant from nearby Uttar Pradesh, were homeless and sleeping rough at New Delhi railway station.

They were both found to be carrying possessions belonging to the victim, including an iPod music player and a spectacles case.

The victim, who was described as "traumatised" by police, gave a detailed statement overnight in the presence of the Danish ambassador and is returning home.

A Danish foreign ministry spokesman said she "will be offered support and care when she comes home to Denmark" while declining to give any other details.

The crime scene was a secluded area shrouded by trees near a statue, inside the grounds of the Railway Officers Club on State Entry Road.

The case comes after a Polish woman was allegedly drugged and raped by a taxi driver earlier this month while travelling with her two-year-old daughter to New Delhi.

Protests over sexual violence in the past year have prompted India's parliament to toughen laws for rapists and other offenders, while other judicial and police reforms have encouraged women to report attacks.


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Source: AAP


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