Two held for gang-rape of school girl in Yavatmal district

A 20-year-old man has been arrested at Arni in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra for allegedly raping a minor girl in February this year, police said Thursday.

While Sheikh Sohel Sheikh Sajid (20) was arrested after the girl's parents lodged the complaint two days ago, another youth, a minor, was apprehended and sent to the children's observation home here, a police officer said.

A case under IPC section 376 (rape) as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered in this regard, said Arni police station officer Yashwant Bawiskar.

The victim studies in std IX. Her parents said in the complaint that she was gang-raped by five persons in February.

The accused also shot a video of the act and later threatened to upload it on social media if she went to the police, the family said.

Bawiskar said that police were investigating if more people (apart from the two accused who have been held) were involved in the crime.

Meanwhile, an all-party Bandh was organised in Arni town, 30 km from here, Thursday to protest the crime and seek immediate arrest of other suspects.