Two brothers have been jailed for 20 years in India for raping a woman over a period of almost three months. Their mother, Usha Devi, was also sentenced to four years in prison for aiding the offence, according to reports citing case officials.
Conviction and sentences
The siblings, only named in local media as Anvaar and Chhotu, of Etawah district in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, were convicted on charges of gang-rape and kidnapping on Tuesday. They each received a 20-year sentence behind bars for the gang-rape and a fine of 10,000 rupees (£77.63). They were also reportedly each handed a five-year sentence and fined 5,000 rupees (£38.82) for kidnapping to compel marriage.
Mother's role and penalties
Local reports add Usha Devi was fined 2,000 rupees (£15.53) and sentenced to four years in prison for wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement a kidnapped or abducted person and one year in prison for wrongful confinement. Sentences often run concurrently in India.
Abduction and rescue
According to the Hindustan Times, the victim is a mother of three who was allegedly abducted after going out to apply for a ration card with her two-year-old son in March 2021. The Additional District Government Counsel said the woman was then taken to Etawah where she was confined for nearly three months and repeatedly raped by the two brothers.
The prosecution said the woman managed to alert her family with the help of a neighbour after the accused left to attend a wedding. She was later rescued by police who also arrested the suspects. Five witnesses were involved in the trial which reportedly included the survivor’s testimony and medical evidence.
