Maoists rape girl for leaving ranks in Jharkhand

A 16-year-old girl and a member of a Maoist outfit was allegedly raped by other members for fleeing the camp in Latehar district of Jharkhand, the police said today.

"The girl ran away from a camp about five days ago. She was caught by the ultras, beaten up and raped when she refused to return," superintendent of police Kuldeep Dwivedi said.

The Maoists had appealed to sympathisers to trace her alleging that she had fled with arms.

The SP said the girl was left at a lonely place from where villagers rescued her and admitted to a health centre.

The girl was arrested and shifted to the Sadar Hospital, Latehar, he said.

The girl had earlier also run away following physical and mental pressure on her and had been jailed after being arrested from the Manika police station area.