WASHINGTON, June 4 – The US is “horrified” to learn of violent sexual assaults and murders in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, the State Department said.

“Like, I think, so many in India, we were horrified to learn of these violent sexual assaults and murders,” Marie Harf, US State Department deputy spokesperson, said at the daily press briefing Tuesday.

“Our thoughts are with the victims’ families during this difficult time,” Harf said while responding to questions on the brutal gang-rape and murder of two teenaged girls last week in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district.

She, however, applauded many individuals, government officials, and civil society groups in India that are working to protect the survivors and prevent gender-based violence. — IANS