Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kamal Thapa said on Saturday taht one of the girls was raped by her own father, who is currently in custody. Police have also arrested one Surya Bahadur BK of Chainpur-9 on charge of raping the 12-year-old girl.

Meanwhile, the persons who allegedly gang-raped the 11-year-old girl are on the run.

DSP Thapa said the perpetrators have been identified and polic were after them.

At a time when the country is reeling from a spate of sexual assaults and incidence of violence against women, the latest rape cases in Sankhuwasabha have raised a serious question on the safety of girls and women across the country.

DSP Thapa said it was just a bizzare coincedence that three minor girls were raped from the same area in four days. He maintained that police were doing their best to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent incidents of rape and violence against women.