JHANSI: A joint team of police and SWAT arrested two persons accused of gang-rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl earlier this month, following an encounter late on Saturday.The accused have been identified as Shailendra Ahirwar and Thakur Das, both hailing from Nimoni village under Uldan police station.On April 2, the girl, a Class-XII student, went for coaching class and did not return thereafter. On April 7, her body was found floating in a well on the village outskirts. Separate police teams were formed to nab the culprits.According to police, the two youths aged 28 years kidnapped and raped the girl, before killing her.SP city Preeti Singh said police had identified both the accused through surveillance and help of informers. Acting on a tip-off about their presence outside the village on Saturday night, police conducted vehicle checking. During the drive, police intercepted a motorcycle past midnight, when the accused opened fire. In retaliatory firing, both the accused were hit on their legs and later admitted to hospital. They later confessed that after raping and killing the girl, they had dumped the body in the well.
