Police have arrested six persons for gang-rape and murder of a 57-year-old woman of Banepa Municipality-10, Kavrepalanchok.

SP Sahakul Bahadur Thapa at District Police Office, Kavre, said the arrestees have been identified as Gopal Pariya, 32, of Bhumlutar, Sadhuram BK, 30, of Dhulikhel, Mahesh Pariyar of Namobuddha, Sita Ram Thapa, 32, of Melamchi, Sindhupalchok, Prakash Pariyar, 24, of Lakhanpur, Ramechhap and Dil Bahadur Pradhan, 33, of Nagreggarche.

The accused are rickshaw pullers and construction workers and were made public during a press conference organised at the District Police Office, Kavre, on Wednesday. SP Thapa said all the arrestees have confessed to their crime.

The victim had left her house for tea on August 27. She was last seen with her friends including Sita Karki at Chandanichok of Banepa on August 28. On the same day, the victim, along with Sita, Mahesh and Prakash had consumed alcohol at a tavern, according to a preliminary investigation.

After consuming alcohol, Prakash and Gopal took the victim near the Punyamata River and raped her taking turns, police said.

She was found half naked at a corn field on August 29.

Broken bangles, a sun glass and Patuka (a shred of cloth wrapped around a woman’s waist) were found near the body.

SP Thapa informed that a murder case will be filed against the detainees.