Four more people have been arrested in connection with the rape and suspicious death of 17-year-old Rinkukumari Sada of Bhagwatipur, Navarajpur Rural Municipality-1, Siraha.

On Friday, the police arrested local members Ramkripal Mandal, Vindeshwar Sah and Rajendra Mandal along with ward member Nathuni Sahahit on the charge of 'panchayati' to fix the rape incident in the village. Four people mentioned in the Kitani complaint are still absconding. 

The police have already arrested Rupesh Mandal, the main accused in the gang rape. Chandeshwar Mandal, Ramvinod Mandal and Kamlesh Das were arrested on February 11. Police said that although their names were not mentioned in the complaint, they appeared to be close to the main accused and were detained for investigation as they had played a role in organizing the 'panchayati'. DSP Birendra Kumar Paswan, spokesperson of Siraha Police, said that the search is on for others involved in the incident. 

Rinku was raped on the evening of January 27 when she went to the field near her house to defecate. According to her family, she returned home at 4 am the next day with her clothes torn and mud on her body. She said that she was raped when her mother inquired after seeing her holding her stomach and crying. He said that while he was defecating, Rupesh suddenly came and offered to have physical contact, and when he refused, others came and took turns in Karesabari.

After there was a rumor in the village, instead of sending the victim to the police, a panchayat was held in the village to settle the matter. The Panchayat, which was attended by about 30 locals, decided that the accused should give Rs 151,000 to Rinku's family and that the victim's family should not go to the police. Then after Rupesh's relatives requested, the fine was reduced to 140,000.