IDUKKI: Two more people were arrested in connection with the Poopara gang-rape case. The accused have been identified as the girl’s friends namely Mahesh Kumar Yadav (25) and Khem Singh (25), natives of Madhya Pradesh. The girl, a native of West Bengal, revealed during a counselling session that she was raped by the duo in Rajakumari and Poopara.

The accused were arrested from their house by Rajakkad police and were remanded by the court. A total of eight people have been nabbed in connection with the case. Mahesh Kumar Yadav, who works in a cardamom plantation, initially had an affair with the girl and then molested her at the residence of his friend Khem Singh. Following which, the girl got into a relationship with Khem Singh.

On May 29, at around 4:30 pm, Khem Singh arrived at the tea plantation near Poopara beverages outlet with the girl and attempted to rape her. At the time, a six-member gang reached there, thrashed Khem Singh and harassed the girl. The accused fled the place as soon as the locals arrived on hearing the girl’s screams. The police, who arrived at the spot, took the girl to Idukki Medical College.

Although the police had taken Khem Singh and Mahesh Kumar Yadav into custody, the girl did not testify against them. The accused also denied the crime. Later, they were released on the pretext that they were not accused in the case. However, the duo was under the secret surveillance of the police.

The girl was given counselling by the child line workers. Meanwhile, it was learned that Mahesh Kumar Yadav and Khem Singh had sexually abused the girl earlier. The accused were arrested by an investigation team led by Munnar DySP K R Manoj.

The girl is currently under the care of district child line authorities. She has not even received primary education, said child protection officer M G Geetha. She does not even know how to read or write and speaks only her local language.