Three Nepalis get judicial custody for US woman's rape

A Himachal court Friday sent three Nepali truck drivers, accused of raping a 30-year-old US national, to 10 days' judicial remand, police said.

The victim, who was on a tourist visa, was allegedly abducted and raped by Arjun, Lucky and Som Bahadur Tamang, in the age group of 22-24, early Tuesday. The three attackers were arrested Thursday.

"Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate Gaurav Sharma sent the accused to judicial remand till June 17," investigating officer Neel Chand told IANS.

The woman who reached this tourist resort, some 500 km from the national capital Delhi, with three other women just a day before the crime, alleged that she was repeatedly raped by three men, who offered her lift in a vehicle late in the night when she could not find a taxi on the outskirts of Manali.

Police said the men drove the woman to a secluded spot to rape and rob her.

In her complaint, the woman had reported theft of cash and valuables.

"The stolen I-phone and most of the cash have been recovered," the police official said.

He said the victim was requested to postpone her departure from the town by four-five days to enable the police to complete its investigations.

The attackers, all drivers and of Nepaii nationality, have been charged with rape, abduction and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.