10 held in Tripura for gangrape of minor

AGARTALA: Ten persons have been arrested in Tripura for their role in the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl in Khashiamangal of Khowai district , police said.

“Of the 10, five have been accused of raping the girl, while five others helped in hiding the accused,” deputy inspector general (DIG) Northern Sumitra Dhar said on Thursday.

According to the FIR, the girl was allegedly raped by five men in a forest at Khashiamangal on July 21. She was waiting for an autorickshaw to return home at Teliamura when a man offered her a lift in a vehicle in which four others were also travelling. The accused took the girl to a jungle and allegedly raped her. Dhar said two other accused in the case are still absconding.

The accused were arrested between July 21 and 23, police said, adding that they were known to the survivor.

After the incident, the girl managed to reach home and told her parents about it, following which the FIR was registered, sources said, adding that the girl received medical attention and her health condition was improving.

Dhar further said that four others have also been arrested over the past few days in connection with two separate cases of sexual assault. Investigation into those cases are underway, the DIG added.