Three suspects have been introduced earlier than an Indian court docket, accused of assaulting a man and gang raping his spouse.
The victims, travel influencers Fernanda Santos, 28, and Vicente Barbéra, 63, earn their residing by creating social media videos of their international motorcycle adventures. In 2024, the couple journeyed into India, making a stop in Dumka district, positioned in Jharkhand.
They set up camp for the evening, solely to be found and attacked by a group of males who sexually assaulted Fernanda. Initial reviews indicated that seven attackers allegedly used a helmet and a stone to brutally beat Vicente, leaving his “mouth destroyed,” however solely three have been current in court docket.
The pair, boasting over 300,000 Instagram followers, have been documenting their worldwide motorcycle journey, touring from India to Nepal on separate bikes.
After sharing their terrifying expertise online, quite a few social media customers prolonged their properly-needs to the battered couple. At the time, Vicente posted on Instagram: “They assaulted us in the store, they turned us over… They put a knife to my throat, like they were going to kill me. And Fernanda was raped by seven, seven guys.”
During a tv interview, Fernanda shared her horrifying expertise: “They raped me, they took turns while some kept watch and they stayed like that for about two hours.”
Despite their traumatic ordeal, the couple made a level to precise that India is “a great country and worth visiting.”
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Speaking by their Instagram account, Vicente lauded the nation whereas Fernanda sat beside him, displaying a battered face. They expressed gratitude to their followers for his or her assist and talked about that authorities have been investigating the incident.
Vicente declared, “Do not think India is like that, because it’s not true. India is a country with many good people. Like all countries, it has its good and bad things. This has been an incident and it doesn’t have to leave us a memory that it’s a bad country, because it’s not like that.”
The duo proceeded to precise appreciation to law enforcement for his or her help, with Vicente describing the assailants as “undesirables.” Following this, the couple resumed their adventurous international expedition.
Fernanda posted an Instagram clip the place she appeared alongside her cherished motorcycle. She wrote in the caption: “Life itself is a gift, I know it’s something we take for granted but when situations happen where you barely see the next day is when you stop to reflect.
“We’ve had a second probability, we’re nonetheless alive, it was laborious yes however we’re nonetheless respiration,” she added. “We’ll go on the journey, we’ll go on with our lives, to not do it’s to let evil win, and we can’t –we’re not quitters. We proceed our journey with more pleasure than ever.”
Following their time in India, the pair journeyed to Sri Lanka earlier than returning to their native Spain. Subsequently in April, they explored varied areas earlier than venturing into Morocco on their bikes.
Recently, Fernanda launched into a journey by Colombia, and the duo even ventured into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Following the incident, the couple determined to travel solo however proceed to function in some videos collectively.
