Unknown men gangrape Indian school teacher in Maldives

Male/New Delhi: In a disturbing incident, some unknown men brutally raped a 24-year-old Indian computer teacher in Maldives, following which the victim is in "very serious condition", prompting India to take up the matter with Maldivian government.

The young Indian teacher working on the island of Dhangethi in Alif Dhaal Atoll was hospitalised after a group of people broke into her home on Sunday night and allegedly raped her, Minivan News reported.

The woman is in a "very serious condition" following the attack, Island Council President Azim Adam was quoted as saying.

India has strongly taken up the matter with the Maldivian authorities, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

He said Indian Mission's official in Male have spoken to Maldives' acting Minister for Gender and Family Mariyam Shakeela seeking justice for the victim, a teacher at private computer school.

The Maldivian authorities have assured India that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice. The official said two Indian officials including a woman officer from the mission met the victim at the hospital. The victim had to undergo blood transfusion.

Meanwhile, Adam said: "They broke in (to her house) around 2:15 AM. I came to know about it at 4:00 AM and I instantly reported it to the police. The girl is now in the atoll hospital in a very serious condition".

A source close to the victim said she was in the hospital's intensive care unit but was "bleeding uncontrollably", the Minivan News said.

"We have put seven pints of blood into her but she is still bleeding. It is a very serious issue. We are planning to send her to India, there is not much more we are able to do here," the source was quoted as saying.

Island Council President Adam said the young woman had been working on the island for less than a month, and described her as a "very kind person who was very friendly towards the local islanders".

Dhangethi is the third largest populated island of Alif Dhaal Atoll, with a population of around 1200 people.