Baripada, April 4: Police today arrested three persons on charges of raping a minor. The incident took place on Thursday night.

The accused persons have been identified as Ranjan Mahanta, 30, Tapan Mahanta, 21, and Jogendra Mahanta, 19 - all residents of Nuagaon village in the Rairangpur town police limits.

Rairangpur sub-divisional police officer Mohanpani Karua, who is investigating the case, said: "The accused were booked for the gang-rape of a minor under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act. The medical examinations of the three accused as well as of the victim have been conducted.

The victim appeared for this year's matriculation exams. Yesterday, the girl's father lodged a police complaint. The accused persons of the neighbouring village were constantly keeping tabs on the girl's movement. On Thursday evening, while she was going to the local market, along with a male friend, on a bicycle, the trio caught hold of them. They then forcibly took her to a nearby forest, raped her and fled the spot.

The victim kept mum for sometime. She briefed about her experience to her parents late night. Acting on the complaint, the police nabbed the three accused in a day's time. During the interrogation, all the three youths confessed to the crime.