RAIPUR: A minor tribal girl was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by seven youths for nine days in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district. Police have arrested six accused on Sunday while one was at large.

According to police, the survivor who hails from Tapkara block of Jashpur district was on way to her aunt's place in Jashpurnagar when the incident took place on November 18. "She was walking down after de-boarding the bus when four youths on two motorbikes approached her insisted lift even after several refusals. Then they forcibly took her to a picnic spot Damera where the youths gang-raped her while other three friends too joined in later," SHO said.

Going by statement of survivor, she was continuously raped and sexually exploited for nine days at various picnic spots and interiors in forests. IT was only on November 28 she was dumped by accused followed by dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone.

When people saw her lying on road, Child Line rescued her from Ranjeeta Stadium and was presented before child welfare committee when the incident came to light. Her parents and police were then informed.

Those held were identified as Rakesh Ram (19), Rajendra Kumar (19), Raki Kumar (18), Md Nazim Khan (20), Sunil Kumar Singh (24) and Arvind Nayak (18) - all natives of Jashpur, the SHO said.

They were booked under Sections 376 (2G) (gangrape), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 363 (kidnapping) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 5 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and sections of Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.