Five more hooded gang rape suspects taken to court over horror attack on influencer Fernanda, 31, demanding ‘justice’
Another FIVE men accused of raping a social media influencer have been hauled into court with black bags pulled over their heads.
Spanish-Brazilian Fernanda, 31, was cycling India with her partner when she was attacked by a gang of criminals.
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Her boyfriend Vincente, 63, said he was held at knifepoint and forced to attend the two-hour ordeal on Friday evening.
On Monday, three men were taken to court with bags on their heads and were taken into custody over the horror incident.
The three suspects, all in their 20s and from Kunjo village, have been identified as Rajan Marandi, Sukhlal Hembrom and Pradeep Kisk.
Police have now arrested a further five suspects in connection with the attack, who have not yet been identified.
They were paraded in court Tuesday with black bags over their heads, handcuffed and tied together in a line with a rope behind a line of police officers.
The five men were arrested after the first trio gave their names to police, senior local police officer Pitamber Singh Kherwer told Press Trust India.
Kherwer stressed that if any of the men are found guilty, they will receive a “severe punishment.”
He added: “We are making a strong case against them.
“We have all the evidence against them and will file charges and request a speedy trial from the court.”
“All suspects are between 18 and 25 years old.”
Dumka deputy commissioner Anjaneyulu Dodde presented a check for ₹10 lakh (£9,515) to Vicente.
Fernanda, who says she was raped by a group of men who took turns attacking her, has called for “justice”.
She said, “They [the police] arrested all the criminals, and there were eight in total.
“I ask for justice… [for] all women who also have to experience this.”
Fernanda choked back tears as she gave her harrowing account of the two hours trial on social media together with her partner Vincente.
In the clip, brave Fernanda showed off bruises on her and Vicente’s face and body.
Fernanda told her followers: “We are in a hospital in India. The police are there too.”
She said they were on their way to Nepal when they decided to pitch their tent in a dark forest camp in the tourist hotspot Dumka in the eastern state of Jharkhand.
But after they fell asleep, she said a gang of men ambushed their tent.
An angry Vincente said: “They held a knife to my neck and threatened to kill me.
‘They raped Fernanda. Seven men. Those sons of b****s.”
He added that he suffered a painful injury after the men “destroyed” his mouth when they hit him with a helmet.
The couple also said their brutal attackers stole 10,000 rupees (£96) in cash and a ring before running off.
The police found the couple seriously injured on the side of the road around 11 p.m.
In an interview with Spanish TV channel Antena 3 on Saturday, Fernanda added: “They raped me, taking turns while some watched and they stayed like that for about two hours.”
The motorcycle couple, which has more than 250,000 followers, made a unique trip around the world motorcycles.
The next court hearing is on March 7.
Starting five years ago, they have so far visited 66 countries and covered 170,000 kilometers.
The attack has sparked outrage across India, with activists calling for an end to violence against women.
The country has a poor record on women’s safety, with more than 31,000 rapes reported in 2022.
With a heartbreaking average of nearly 90 rapes per day in India, according to the country’s National Crime Records.
That corresponds to one rape every 18 minutes.
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How to get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Contact charities for help, including Women’s Aid’s live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarize yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without saying anything, but calling “55” instead.
- Make sure you always have some money with you, including change for a phone booth or bus ticket.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try going to a lower-risk part of the house, such as where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where knives or other weapons are likely to be present. Avoid rooms where you could become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you could be locked in a closet or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid offers a live chat service – Available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
You can also call the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.