Chandigarh: A 12-year-old who had alleged she was kidnapped and molested by 10 people in Panipat district has retracted her statement, saying she made up the story as she was scared of being scolded for coming home late, a police officer said.

The Class VIII student recorded her new statement before a magistrate on Tuesday, the police said.

The girl had alleged on Monday that she was on her way home in her village when around 10 youths in a car abducted her, gave her sedatives and took her to a nearby field where they tried to rape her.

After she complained to her father, he took her to the police, who registered a case, Panipat SP Manbir Singh said on Tuesday. The girl had been away from home for a few hours, Singh said.

"During the investigations, it came to light that the girl had cooked up the story to escape her mother's anger," he said.

SP Singh said the girl was being counselled. PTI