Police in Ilam have arrested four people, including a 24-year-old man, for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Mai Municipality-4. The suspects also attempted to cover up the crime by offering the victim’s family Rs 300,000 in cash.

The main accused, Keshav Giri, 24, of Mai Municipality-2, along with his 58-year-old father Kedarnath Giri, 43-year-old uncle Narayan Giri, and a 38-year-old neighbour, Tuladhar Aryal, were taken into custody on Sunday.

According to the Ilam District Police Office, Keshav allegedly lured the girl into a tea garden in Sitali, Mai-2, and raped her on March 19, using threats and intimidation. After the incident came to light, the accused fled, but police later tracked them down.

Investigators revealed that Aryal, the neighbour, had approached the victim’s family with Rs 300,000 in an attempt to settle the matter out of court. The money was later recovered from the victim’s mother, who reported the bribery attempt to police on March 22.

“The accused tried to pressure the family into silence by offering money to avoid legal action,” said a police official.

All four suspects have been remanded into custody for seven days by the Ilam District Court as investigations continue.