Hyderabad: Four men allegedly gang-raped an Intermediate student while she was returning home after attending nature’s call at the Old Mall colony in Yacharam.

The four, who secretly followed the 17-year-old girl, overpowered her and took her to a deserted place a few meters away from her house, and raped her.

After the crime they threatened her not to reveal the incident and fled. Yacharam police arrested all the suspects on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night and the culprits are neighbours of the victim. “The area is deserted at night and the girl came out to answer nature’s call. The culprits saw it and followed her while she was returning home. They overpowered and took her to the deserted place,” said inspector J. Madan Mohan Reddy.

The girl tried to shout but as the area was deserted and as the culprits covered her mouth with their hands it was not effective. “While one sexually assaulted her another confined her,” an official said.

After the incident the gang threatened her not to reveal the incident to anyone. “They told her that if she spoke about the event her dignity would be at stake and she will have to face consequences,” the victim’s relatives said in their complaint.

The bleeding victim, who lived with her uncle and aunt, came back home and could not tell them immediately due to severe trauma. However, the next morning, she told them about the incident. Her aunt and uncle approached the police and lodged a complaint. The police has booked a case of rape and criminal intimidation.