Woman, 48, also allegedly robbed as she walked to a guesthouse in Palolem beach

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Indian police have arrested a suspect over the alleged rape and robbery of a British woman in the western state of Goa, according to reports.

The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday when the 48-year-old victim was walking to a guesthouse near Palolem beach at about 3am.

She had left her accommodation to catch a train from Canacona railway station, but after the train was delayed she decided to walk the one mile back to the guesthouse alone.

As she reached the beach she was allegedly attacked and forced into a paddy field on the roadside, where she was raped. She was robbed of 20,000 rupees (£225), her passport and some personal belongings, reports said. Her belongings, but not the cash, were later found about 50 metres from the scene.

The woman was said to have taken shelter with a friend before reporting the incident to the police.

The suspect was reported to be a man from the southern state of Tamil Nadu who was arrested at Margao railway station, about 20 miles (35km) from Canacona.

He was detained after police examined CCTV footage from the railway station, as well as the area where the incident occurred, local media said.

Police said the woman had visited the state every year for the past 10 years.

In 2017, a 28-year-old Irish woman, Danielle McLaughlin, was raped and murdered while on holiday in Goa. A man is on trial for her murder.

In 2008, Scarlett Keeling, 15, was raped and killed during a trip to Goa.

