Cuttack, March 16: Parents of a three-year-old "rape victim" living at a slum in Mangalabag today alleged that some members of a local puja committee had abused them and forced them to pay Rs 10,000 as "fine" for daring to lodge police complaint.

Police today arrested four persons in this connection. They have been identified as Muna Nayak, Raju Nayak, Prashant Mukhi and Dipu Nayak, all residents of Mangalabag and members of the local puja committee. Raju is the president of the committee, while Mukhi is the joint secretary. Dipu is the president of another local youth's association.

The mother of the alleged rape victim had lodged a harass complaint against the four accused on Wednesday.

Police sources said that the parents had lodged a rape complaint at Mangalabag police station on January 27. Mangalabag police had immediately handed over the case to Mahila police station and a 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident the next day.

Ever since, the local heavyweights were mounting constant pressure on them to withdraw the complaint. The local puja committee officials had allegedly threatened the family of dire consequences if they did not withdraw the complaint. They had also demanded a "fine" of Rs 30,000 from them for reporting the matter to the police.

The victim's parents, who are sweepers, initially did not dare to file a police complaint. However, the mother of the girl could not take the humiliation anymore and went to the local police station to report the incident on Wednesday.

"The puja committee officials had threatened to lock our house after we sought justice for our daughter," said the rape victim's mother.