Cuttack, Oct. 7: Police today arrested three persons in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 29-year-old tribal woman, who is now battling for life at SCB Medical College and Hospital here.

The victim was rescued unconscious from a field and was later admitted to the state-run hospital yesterday evening. The accused have been identified as Gundicha Samal, 38, Abhaya Pradhan, 26, and Krupasindhu Jena, 30, of Athgarh. All the three accused were involved in illicit liquor trade at Banki and nearby villages.

“All the three accused involved in the gang rape of the woman have been arrested and their medical examination has been conducted,” said Banki inspector-in-charge Niranjan Padhi.

The police said the incident occurred around 1pm yesterday, when the three raped the woman finding her alone in the field. Local villagers staged a demonstration and blocked the Cuttack-Banki road for over three hours today in protest against the incident.

The agitators were demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the crime and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the victim’s family members. The agitation was called off after Banki sub-collector announced for a compensation of Rs 75,000.

The police said a group of villagers had rescued the woman yesterday around 4pm. As the hands and legs of the woman were tied up, it was suspected that she was subjected to sexual assault. “We had left the field around 12 noon and when we returned, we found her hands and legs tied up. Later, we rushed her to the nearest hospital, but doctors asked us to shift her to SCB,” said the victim’s mother.

The family members informed the victim’s husband, who worked in a private company outside the state and had abandoned her for the past one-and-a-half years. As a result, the victim was staying with her parents with her three-year-old daughter at Kuamunda in Banki sub-division, around 20km from Cuttack.

“We want death penalty for those involved in the crime and the state government should take steps to put a check on sale of liquor in the state,” said the victim’s aunt.