Two minor girls raped in West Bengal

Two minors, one of them a physically challenged girl, were allegedly raped in two different incidents in West Bengal's Malda district, police said Saturday. Three people have been arrested.

In the first case, a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped Friday morning when she was alone at home. The girl later informed her parents, who lodged a police complaint.

"We have arrested a person based on the description given by the victim," said an officer of the English Bazar police station.

In the second instance, which also occurred within the jurisidiction of the same police station, a 16-year-old physically challenged school girl was allegedly gang-raped by three men Friday night.

Three youths attacked the girl when she was roaming far away from her home. Following her screams, several people gathered, but the culprits managed to flee.

Police detained several people and finally arrested the three culprits.

"The girls have been sent to Malda District Hospital for medical tests to ascertain whether they were raped," an officer said.

All the three accused in this case, as well as the man arrested for the rape of the 12-year-old, were to be produced before a court.