Two gang rape incidents have occurred within the span of 24 hours in Saptari district. Police on Monday said two women, ages 18 and 31, were raped at Shambhunath Municipality and Bishnupur Rural Municipality in the district on Sunday and Saturday respectively.

A group of five men raped the 18-year-old in a wheat field at Shanbhunath-3 on Sunday night. The victim was waylaid by two men while returning home after buying medicines from a pharmacy at around 8pm, taken to a wheat field and raped, police said. According to the woman, the two men later called three of their friends to the scene who also took turns raping her.

She was rescued by her mother who also reported the incident to the police.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Mukesh Kumar Singh said two of the suspects were arrested the same night while three others are at large.

The victim, who was taken to the Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital for treatment, was discharged on Monday.

On Saturday night, the 31-year-old Dalit woman from Bishnupur was gang-raped by two assailants at Majhau.

She was attacked while she was returning home from her relative’s home at around 7pm.

No arrests have been made as of Monday.

Police said they have identified the suspects who have fled the village after the crime.

Following the incident, the villagers had allegedly tried to settle the case at the local level. Their attempt was foiled after police reached the village.

The records at the District Police Office show that 18 rapes and 14 of attempted rapes have occurred in Saptari since mid-July 2017.