Five held for raping woman

VIZIANAGARAM/HYDERABAD: The Kurupam police on Wednesday arrested five persons in connection with the gang rape of a 38-year-old tribal woman in Kurupam mandal in Vizianagaram district on February 25 night. Incidentally, the opposition parties raised the issue in the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday morning demanding that the State government provide ex gratia to the rape victim and initiate stringent action against the accused.Following the report from the victim, the police picked up 11 suspects from Kairada village of Kurupam mandal in the district, where the woman was raped a few days ago.During the investigation, five persons confessed to having raped the tribal woman.The accused are - B Ramesh, Y Raju, B Neelakanteswara Rao, B Ravi Kumar and B Nageswar Rao - all tribals and residents of Kairada village of Kurupam mandal and below 25-years of age, the police said.It may be recalled that the woman and her husband were returning home and were stopped by a group of 11 inebriated men. The men beat up the husband and dragged her raped her.