Rajbiraj, November 20

Saptari police yesterday arrested two persons for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl three-and-a-half year ago.

The arrested are Shambhu Sah, and Nabin Datta of Rajbiraj Municipality, according to Saptari SP Rajendra Bista. As per Janakpur High Court’s directive of November 1, they have been kept in custody.

The victim had filed the case with Saptari District Police office saying she was gang-raped by seven persons including Nabin and Shambhu, who were arrested on 7 April 2015.  The girl was gang-raped inside a room rented by Amar Kumar Yadav in Bhupendra Yadav’s house in Rajbiraj on March 27.

Of the rape-accused, Jitendra Mandal Khang, arrested on April 8, 2015, was sent to judicial custody in line with the directive of Saptari District Court from 7 May  2015. Dipak Kherwar, 18, was freed on the general date on the same day. The court had issued an arrest warrant against Shambhu, Nabin, Fudin Khan, Kamal Kishor Sah and Dipersh Kumar Yadav.

Of the accused, the district court acquitted Jitendra, Kamal and Dipak on June 6, 2016.

District court had freed Shambhu and Nabin on December 22, 2016, on general date directing them to post a bail of Rs 40,000 each. Similarly, Fudin was released on a general date and directed to post bail money of Rs 40,000 on April 18, 2017.

Office of the district attorney had filed a case with the High court challenging the verdict issued by the district court.

Issuing a diktat on November 1 this year, the high court had directed the police to keep the rape-accused in custody.

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