Etah(UP): A 13-year-old girl, who had asked for direction from a home guard as she had lost her way home, was allegedly held hostage, stripped and gang-raped by him and his associate here.

The minor girl had gone to market on September 25 and had sought the help of the home guard, Jitendra, posted in Kotwali Dehat police station, who in turn brought her to the police station where he introduced her as his niece, police said.

In the night, the home guard took her to his residence where he and his associates raped her, police said, adding that she was kept there for four days.

It was only when her family members launched a hunt and police mounted pressure that she was recovered and admitted to district hospital yesterday.

A named FIR against home guard, Jitendra and his associate Shailendra has been lodged and investigations are on, police added.