Internet outraged after Brazilian vlogger allegedly gangraped

In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across the globe, a 28-year-old Brazilian vlogger was allegedly gang-raped in Dumka, in the Indian state of Jharkhand. The Indian Express reported that the horrific incident happened during the vlogger’s biking trip with her partner on Friday night. The couple was en route to Bhagalpur when they decided to halt in Dumka for the night, putting up a tent in the area.

According to Dumka Superintendent of Police Pitamber Singh Kherwar, the couple sought help from a patrolling vehicle around midnight, revealing a harrowing tale of a brutal assault. Kherwar stated, “Initially, the patrolling party did not understand much of the incident because the woman was speaking partly in English and partly in Spanish. They were taken to a nearby Health center. The doctors then informed the police that the woman had been raped.”

The couple later shared a video on social media recounting the traumatic experience. In the video, the complainant said, “We are in the hospital, and something happened to us that we would not wish on anyone. Seven men raped me, and they have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things [were taken] because what they wanted was to rape me. We are in the hospital with the police; it happened tonight in India.”

The authorities have acted swiftly, with four suspects already arrested in connection with the case. However, the news has prompted widespread outrage on social media, with internet users expressing their dismay and concern.

“Gang rapes are a scourge in India. Cowardly groups of violent sex depraved men. As travelers, they would have been open and friendly, and that was the weakness that got taken advantage of. Shocking and shameful,” one user on the microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter, condemned the incident.

Another X post challenged Indian media’s priorities with the attention being given to billionaire businessman and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant’s grand pre-wedding festivities with fiancé Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant. “Checked the quotes and realised that the entire world is speaking about it except the Indian media who are more bothered about covering a pre-wedding.”

With a star-studded roster of guests in attendance at the wedding bash in Jamnagar including international bigwigs like Bill Gates and Rihanna, many critics are launching the same broadside against Indian media outlets. “The juxtaposition of the media covering a wedding with the theme of atithi devo bhava while this happening in another part of the country and not being covered by news outlets,” a netizen pointed out.

The Sanskrit refrain ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ gestures towards a long tradition of welcoming guests with great honour and dignity. Mukesh, while greeting the attendees at his son’s extravagant wedding celebration, invoked the Indian practice, as per News18. “Our esteemed friends and family, namaste and good evening to each and every one of you. In the Indian tradition, we respectfully describe guests as Atithis. ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. It means: Guests are like Gods," he said.

After making headlines for the past few weeks, many internet users allege that the Ambani wedding is not detracting focus from the more pressing realities of Indian life. “This barely got any coverage but some billionaire pre-wedding ceremony did. Dystopian times we are living in,” claimed one X user.

The outrage becomes more critical as netizens slam Ambani’s usage of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ as a call to promote tourism in the country, in the footsteps of the national tourism ministry. A detractor remarked, “People are busy gloating about how Ambani is promoting tourism in India but will completely ignore this, by the way.”

The post furthered on, “Rather we love clamping down on criticism instead of acknowledging the issue.” Another comment reflected on the pervasive vulnerability of women in India, stating, “So not only is solo travelling there as a woman essentially a death wish, but you can still get gang-raped when you’re with a man? Good heavens, my desi sisters are always in my prayers.”

The heinous crime has ignited a conversation about the safety of women travelers in India, raising questions about the prevalent issue of sexual violence and the urgent need for stricter measures to ensure the well-being and security of all individuals, both locals and tourists alike.

Others simultaneously identified long History of sexual assault in India and disparaged those using the Dumka incident to freely indulge in racist stereotypes. “I do not agree with the racism in the response to this post at all but India does have a rampant issue with sexism and violence against women,” an X post contended.

The user firmly added, “It becomes so incredibly horrific and disheartening every single time things like this keep happening. Teach men how to behave.” Another countered posts victim-blaming the couple for camping in a dangerous locality. “Indian men actually defending this sh*t by trying to blame the couple for camping in an unsafe place just tells you everything you need to know about how women are treated in this country.”

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