A suspect in the fatal gang rape of a student in India is in "very critical condition" after allegedly being beaten by fellow inmates in prison, Sky News reports.
The defense lawyer told Agence-France Presse that Vinay Sharma "was vomiting blood and running a very high fever. He was also suffering from chest pains. He is in a very critical condition."
The lawyer also claimed that Sharma's food has been slowly poisoned over several weeks, causing the nausea.
Police arrested Sharma and four others in connection to the kidnap, gang-rape, and murder of a 23-year old woman in Delhi in December. The woman died from her injuries 13 days after the attack.
Rape is an epidemic in the country. Latest figures suggest that a woman is raped every 20 minutes in India and that rapes in Delhi are up 16 percent to 661 cases this year.
This year there have been publicized gang rapes of a stage coach passenger in January, a Swedish tourist in March, and a 5-year-old girl in April.
SEE ALSO: Massive Anti-Police Protests Erupt In India After Rape Of 5-Year-Old Girl
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