DHAKA: Indian prosecutors said on Tuesday they have formally charged eight men over the rape of an elderly Catholic nun that shocked the country earlier this year.

The nun, who is in her 70s, needed surgery after the attack in March when a gang of robbers broke into the convent school where she lived in the town of Ranaghat in eastern West Bengal state.

Six men, all Bangladeshi nationals, are in custody and another two suspects were charged in absentia.

The charges were filed on Monday and include robbery with attempt to cause death or grievous harm, criminal conspiracy and gang rape, the additional public prosecutor with the Ranaghat court, Pradip Kumar Pramanik, told the media, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1751 HRS, JUN 23, 2015
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