Mysuru, July 21: Three persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a young woman from West Bengal in Karnataka’s Mysuru district, police said on Tuesday.

However, authorities added that they are still verifying the facts of the case and the allegations made by the victim as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident was reported under the jurisdiction of the T. Narasipura Town Police Station in Mysuru district. According to the complaint, the victim alleged that she was forcibly taken to a lodge by the accused, where they sexually assaulted her.

The accused have been identified as Kiran, Kishore and Riyan.

In her complaint, the woman stated that she was forcibly taken in a car by the accused while she was standing at the T. Narasipura private bus stand two days ago. She further alleged that the accused took her to a lodge in Santemarahalli town, where they gang-raped her.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, the police arrested all three accused within 24 hours. They were subsequently produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Police officials said that, considering the sensitivity of the matter and concerns relating to women’s safety, immediate action was taken to apprehend the accused. At the same time, investigators are examining all aspects of the case, including whether the victim had accompanied the accused voluntarily.

According to the police, the accused have claimed that the woman had accompanied them of her own accord. They further alleged that an argument broke out at the lodge over the recording of a video. Following the altercation, they claimed to have dropped the woman back at her location, after which she lodged a complaint alleging gang-rape.

Police said they are also verifying the victim’s background and examining the statements of the accused to establish the facts of the case. Further investigation is underway.

However, the authorities are concerned about the development as Mysuru city is one of the major tourist destinations in the state, which attracts people from across the globe. The authorities have already started preparations for grand Dasara celebrations.

It can be recalled that a 10-year-old child was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered near Mysuru Palace on October 10, 2025. The victim’s family, along with about 50 others from the Hakki Pikki nomadic tribe community, had travelled from Kalaburagi to Mysuru for the Dasara festival to sell balloons and toys. They were camping near the Palace grounds and selling goods at different locations in the city. Mysuru Police launched a manhunt for the suspect and arrested Karthik from Kollegal. He allegedly attempted to flee during the arrest, forcing police to shoot him in the leg before taking him into custody.

New Delhi, July 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Tuesday that the issue of paper leaks is “not limited” to a single state or the Central government; rather, it is a “matter of concern for the entire nation”, while adding that the government has acted promptly, resulting in the arrest of 13 individuals related to the case so far.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that during the NDA’s ‘Mangal Milan’ programme, Prime Minister Modi urged lawyers to unite and ensure that those guilty face the strictest punishment.

He said that PM Modi highlighted the achievements of the youth of India and stressed that “our time, energy and focus should be on the youth and their future”.

Speaking to the reporters on the discussions held at the NDA meeting, Rijiju said, “Regarding the NEET paper leak case, the Prime Minister said that as soon as reports of the paper leaks emerged, the government took immediate action. Thirteen people were arrested and sent to jail. At the same time, to ensure that the future of students was not affected, conducting the NEET re-examination was given top priority, and it was successfully held without any delay in the declaration of results.”

“Those involved in the paper leak racket, who have been identified and arrested, have been sent to jail. Prime Minister ji also appealed that top lawyers should support efforts to ensure the strictest possible punishment for those involved in heinous crimes like paper leaks, so that strong deterrent measures can prevent such incidents in the future,” he added.

“The Prime Minister remarked that the issue of paper leaks is not confined to any single state or the Central government but is a matter of concern for the entire nation. All states and political parties must unite to take action against this crime. This is not a matter of partisan politics, but an issue concerning the future of the country and its youth,” he added.

Rijiju stated that Prime Minister Modi has stressed that the “youth of the country will not only be given full assurance for the prevention of future paper leaks, but also to show them ways so that the youth of India can take a leadership role in the world”.

He said that the Prime Minister also praised Skyoot Aerospace for the successful launch of Vikram-1. “The youth of India are making tremendous success in different fields. So we will devote our time and energy and focus on the youth and their future,” Rijiju added.

The Union Minister said the meeting was “good” and the Prime Minister also spoke about the achievements India has accomplished over the past few months, including the Free Trade Agreements signed with several countries, which he said are in “favour of the farmers and the country”.

Rijiju further stated that during the ongoing Monsoon Session, the “NDA will play a positive role”. He said that the NDA “will remain united to ensure passage of the bills and legislative business brought by the government before Parliament”.

Appealing to the Opposition, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, “We may have differences as political parties, but Parliament is meant to work for the country, for its future, and for the youth. We have all been elected as Members of Parliament for this purpose, and everyone should work together to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament.”

Patna, July 20: A Class 12 student was shot dead by unidentified assailants while on her way to school in Bihar Samastipur district on Monday, triggering shock and panic in the area.

The incident took place in Kejiya village under the Vaini police station limits in the morning.

According to police, the student, who studied in Class 12 at Kasturba Vidyalaya, had left home in her school uniform to attend classes when she was attacked near her residence.

The assailants allegedly fired multiple rounds at her, killing her on the spot before fleeing the scene.

Police reached the location soon after receiving information about the incident and launched an investigation.

During the preliminary examination, officers recovered four spent bullet casings from the crime scene.

Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the District Investigation Unit (DIU) were also called in to collect forensic evidence and assist in the probe.

Preliminary findings indicate that the student may have been struck by three bullets, although officials said the exact number of gunshot injuries will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination. Her body has been sent for an autopsy.

Sadar-1 SDPO Sanjay Kumar Pandey described the incident as a heinous crime and said the investigation is being conducted on a priority basis.

He revealed that information provided by the victim’s family has helped police identify a suspect, and raids are underway to apprehend the accused.

According to the SDPO, the family has also shared important details regarding a possible motive behind the murder, and investigators are pursuing all available leads.

However, he clarified that the exact number of assailants is yet to be established and remains part of the ongoing investigation.

To ensure a swift and thorough probe, the district police are constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Officials said the investigation is being carried out using both scientific and technical evidence, with efforts focused on identifying and arresting all those involved in the killing.