Reports out of central India yesterday suggested that a Swiss woman had been gang-raped by a group of men in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The woman was reportedly camping with her husband last Friday during a cycling trip when they were attacked by seven or eight men.

The assailants overpowered the husband before gang-raping his wife.

The victim, who is reported to be 39 years old was admitted to hospital

It was reported that eight suspects had been arrested and were being questioned in connection with the case.

The tourists had been cycling from Orchha to Agra, a distance of about 250 kilometres (155 miles), when they decided to camp overnight at a village.

One report cited the victim's husband as saying that the group of men had approached them and started beating him with wooden sticks before tying him up and sexually assaulting his wife in front of him.

The assailants stole the couple's valuables, including 10,000 rupees ($185) and a mobile phone, before fleeing into the woods.

The incident comes three months after the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old female student on a bus in the capital, Delhi, which triggered widespread protests against the treatment of women in India.

Last Monday, one of the suspects was found dead in prison. Police said he hanged himself, but his family suspect he was murdered