Police have arrested 17 persons on the charge of killing a teenage girl in the name of ‘exorcising evil spirits’.

The girl, 14, from Sainamaina Municipality of Rupandehi district, died after she was assaulted by a shaman on Monday in the name of treating her illness.

According to the Rupandehi District Police Office, shaman Soniya Reshmi and 16 others who attended the funeral rites of the girl were arrested for an investigation. Police Inspector Deepak Kunwar said they have started an investigation into the case.

Police arrested the culprits after videos in which the girl is seen assaulted by the shaman took social media by storm.