Man gets life term for raping British tourist in Rajasthan

Posted 05 1 2008 2:34AM

JAIPUR, India (Reuters) - A Rajasthan court sentenced a guesthouse owner to life in prison on Wednesday for raping a British tourist last December.

The sentencing comes after an increase in attacks on foreign tourists in India and after the govermment ordered the police to provide more protection to foreigners.

In February this year, Scarlett Keeling, a 15-year-old British girl, was raped and murdered in Goa, prompting criticism of the police for failing to protect her.

On Wednesday, a court in Rajasthan found a 32-year-old man guilty of raping a British tourist on the pretext of supplying a blanket to her room last December.

"The court has also imposed a fine on him," B.S. Rao, the public prosecuter said from Udaipur, where the sentencing took place.

The Udaipur police arrested the man after the British tourist, who is in her forties, sent an e-mail to the British High Commission in India, detailing what happened to her.