A man has been arrested over the alleged rape of an Irish woman working with an aid agency in India.
The 21-year-old woman reported the attack after celebrating her birthday in Kolkata (Calcuta), in the west Bengal region in the north-east of the country.
Indian police said 35-year-old Sujoy Mitra had been accused of the attack at the weekend and was remanded in custody until later this week.
According to local media, Mitra brought the woman to his house in the Kalighat area of the city after a night out where the alleged rape took place.
Mitra was arrested by police on Saturday and yesterday appeared in court in Alipore for a preliminary hearing.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance to the woman.
It is understood diplomatic staff were notified of the case yesterday and officials from the embassy in New Delhi are dealing with it.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised women going to India to exercise caution.
Its website says women should not travel alone and be careful when selecting accommodation, and as recently as May 21st it updated information on the risks involved.
It warns: “Tourists have been the victims of sexual assault in Agra, Goa, Delhi, Bangalore, Madyha Pradesh and Rajasthan. Women travellers often receive unwanted attention in the form of verbal and physical harassment.
“Women travellers should exercise caution when travelling in India.”
PA