Three ninth graders were allegedly held hostage and raped in Ghatail upazila of Tangail yesterday.

Father of one of the victims filed a case this morning against seven unidentified men with Ghatail Police Station following the incident, reports our Tangail correspondent quoting Amir Khasru, assistant superintendent of police, Tangail Sadar Circle.

Hours later, police arrested four accused, the official said adding that they were looking for the others.

The girls along with two of their friends went to Katora area of Ghatail’s Jharka forest yesterday morning, reports our correspondent quoting the case statement.

A group of alleged local criminals arrived at the spot and held four girls captive.

Then, they called the victims’ families demanding ransom. As the family members denied to give ransom, three of the criminals raped the trio while others helped them.

They, however, did not rape the fourth girl, as she was their “acquaintance”, the statement reads.

After the incident the three girls managed to go to one of their relatives’ house. Police later sent them to Tangail General Hospital for tests and treatment, the ASP added.