CHITWAN: Police have arrested seven youths for their alleged involvement in two separate gang-rape incidents which occurred at Bharatpur Municipality and Madi Municipality in the district.

Issuing a notice on Monday, District Police office informed that the arrests were made in connection with rape incidents which happened on August 15 and August 16, 2018.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shiva Acharya, a 17-year-old girl of Pyuthan staying at relative’s house in Bharatpur had filed a complaint against five persons for taking her to a mineral water production plant in Bharatpur Municipality-11 at night and gang-raping her.

The arrestees were identified as Yubraj Saru Magar (21) and  Sainthil Dhimal (19) of Nawalpur, Akash Thapa (20) and Arjun BK (35) of Bharatpur and a 17-year-old minor boy whose name was not disclosed.

Driver Akash Thapa and his assistant, the minor boy, knew the victim and lured her to ride with them. As per the complaint lodged by the victim, the suspects had gang raped her after intoxicating her.

Based on victim’s account and preliminary investigation the five accused seem involved in the incident. However, the case will close after further investigation which is underway, police said.

Likewise, police have also arrested Navraj Mahato (23) and Ram Pratap Mahato (24) of Madi Municipality on charges of raping a minor girl.

The Mahato duo were accused of raping a 16-year-old girl after taking her to a pond in the municipality at night.

According to District Police Office, the accused walked along with two girls in pretext of accompanying them to their houses and raped one of the minor girls.

Police were informed by the victim’s friend who made the distress call as her friend was being raped.

Further investigation into the case is underway, police said.