NAINITAL: Two men lured a 15-year-old Class 10 student away on the pretext of visiting a tourist spot, allegedly forced her to consume alcohol and raped her in their car at a secluded spot in Haldwani’s Kathgodam area. The accused worked as taxi drivers, and were arrested following a complaint by the survivor’s family.Police said the alleged sexual assault took place on Tuesday evening when the minor girl had stepped out to buy groceries. The two accused, aged 20 and 24, were tenants in her neighbourhood and they knew one another.

When the girl did not return home till late in the evening, her family began searching and later found her unconscious along the roadside. After regaining consciousness, the girl narrated her ordeal to her family members, who approached the police. A case under relevant BNS sections and the Pocso Act was registered. “Both the accused were identified and taken into custody on Tuesday night from Haidakhan area in Haldwani,” said SP (city) Manoj Katyal.CO Amit Kumar Saini said the accused, originally from Almora district, had rented accommodation near the survivor’s house. Police have seized the vehicle used in the incident.