Police with the arrested suspects on Thursday | Photo Credit: Times Now

Key Highlights The incident took place barely four kilometres from her college campus in Ranchi Police revealed that two men on a motorcycle abducted her at gunpoint She reached the Kanke police station in an agonizing state and narrated the ordeal

Ranchi: A group of 12 men have been arrested in connection with the abduction and gang-rape of a 25-year-old girl, Jharkhand police said on Thursday. The incident took place in the state capital on Tuesday morning when the girl was waiting at a bus stop along with her friend, barely four kilometres from her college campus.

Police officials familiar with the case said that two men arrived at the bus stop on a motorcycle and abducted her at gunpoint while threatening her friend. Their bike ran out of petrol along the way which is when the abductors summoned their accomplices who came to pick them up in a car. The men then took the 25-year-old law student to a brick kiln where they took turns raping her.

She managed to reach the Kanke police station on Wednesday morning where an FIR was lodged in this regard against unknown persons. A special team was constituted at the directions of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) and raids were conducted to nab the accused throughout the day. As a result, 12 men who were all identified as tribals, have been arrested and charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on charges of abduction, wrongful confinement and gang-rape among others.

The suspects have been identified as Ajay Munda, Aman Oraon, Basant Kachhap, Kuldeep Oraon, Naveen Oraon, Rajan Oraon, Ravi Oraon, Rishi Oraon, Rohit Oraon, Sandeep Tirkey, Sunil Munda and Sunil Oraon. The survivor's damaged cell phone was recovered from their possession along with a country-made pistol, three live bullets, eight mobile phones, two magazines, a motorcycle and a car.

With elections in Jharkhand around the corner, the presence of security personnel has been heightened in the state. However, it is shocking that such a heinous crime was executed in full public view in broad daylight, minutes away from the official residence of Chief Minister Raghubar Das. While senior police officials took charge and acted promptly, the fact that these men were able to commit the crime without any fear of law and order whatsoever, is a matter of grave concern.

This incident came to light on the same day a veterinarian doctor was gang-raped and murdered in Telangana. Her charred body was found by locals. The matter has sparked widespread outrage with citizens demanding stringent actions against the culprits. The matter is still under active investigation and more details are awaited.