A Spanish tourist, reportedly gang-raped while on a bike tour with her husband in Jharkhand’s Dumka district, has expressed no regrets about her visit to India. The incident occurred on March 2 when the 28-year-old was spending the night with her partner in a makeshift tent. Speaking to South China Morning Post (SCMP) about their bike journey spanning 67 countries and their experiences in India, the couple, now back in Spain, shared their perspectives.
“I think everyone in the world expects me to say ‘Don’t go to India’, but life is far more complicated than that. What happened to me in India could have happened anywhere else. Not so long ago, a couple travelling in Belize, in Central America, the same thing happened to them,” the woman told SCMP.
“My advice to women is to get out of the house, travel and do so without fear. If you are going to camp, it should be in a place not too far from the road where you can easily call for help and have a signal for your phone,” she added.
Regarding the possibility of testifying in court, her partner mentioned uncertainty but expressed willingness to do so, even via video call if necessary.
When questioned about taking responsibility for being a risk-taker, the woman stated, “I understand how some people might reach that conclusion. You know, society convinces us to live one way, to go to work, to have two children, to stay in our circle. So when a person exits their circle, they are considered risk-takers.”
“Yes, I left the house, and yes, I took risks, but I don’t regret it. I don’t regret going to India. I don’t regret anything about our journey,” she added.
“Maybe if we had just gone another way or stayed in a hotel, this never would have happened. But using the same logic, maybe something worse would have happened and I wouldn’t be alive. Accidents can happen anywhere, even inside the safety of your house,” said the 28-year-old.
Despite the ordeal, they plan to resume their bike trips. “We’re just taking a break in Spain. We don’t know when but we are sure we will continue. We’ve already started planning.”
