Indian brothers 'repeatedly raped Japanese tourist over three weeks'

Indian police have arrested two brothers accused of repeatedly raping a 22-year-old Japanese tourist over three weeks near Bodh Gaya, Buddhism's holiest site, an official said yesterday.

The tourist had been held hostage at gunpoint in a secluded underground room.

"When her health condition deteriorated due to repeated rape and poor living conditions, she was brought to Gaya [district headquarters] for medical treatment on December 20," a police officer who is part of the investigation said.

She managed to escape and reached Varanasi where she met some Japanese tourists who helped her contact the Japanese consulate in the nearby city of Calcutta, the officer added.

Sajid Khan, 32, and his 25-year-old brother Jawed Khan, both tourist guides, were arrested on Friday. Police deputy superintendent Alok Kumar Singh confirmed: "We have arrested the duo for confining and raping the Japanese student."

The Bodh Gaya complex, 110km south of Bihar state capital Patna, is home to one of the earliest Buddhist temples still standing in India.