A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by three men after she was taken, along with a male acquaintance, to a secluded forest area in Pachmarhi — a famous tourist spot in Madhya Pradesh – last week. Police have arrested all three accused within six hours of the survivor reporting the incident, officials said on Monday.

According to police, the girl was returning home with an acquaintance when a friend of the latter arrived with two other men. The three allegedly took the girl and her acquaintance to a secluded spot where they allegedly intimidated them and sexually assaulted the teenager. The accused allegedly later dropped them back and threatened them against revealing the incident before anyone.

The incident came to light after the girl approached Pachmarhi police and reported the alleged assault. Following her complaint, multiple police teams were deployed and all three accused were arrested within six hours, police said.

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Narmadapuram Additional Superintendent of Police Abhishek Rajan said, “An incident involving the sexual assault of a minor has come to light in Pachmarhi; the incident occurred on the 19th. The victim was returning home with an acquaintance when a friend of that acquaintance arrived, accompanied by two other friends. They took the victim and the acquaintance to a secluded spot, where, through intimidation, the three men sexually assaulted the victim.”

Rajan said after the victim reported the incident, various police teams swung into action, and all three accused were arrested within six hours of the report being filed. “The three accused have confessed to the crime and are now being produced before the court,” the officer said.

Police have registered a case under Section 70(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to gang rape, along with provisions relating to voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and common intention. Provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) have also been invoked.