Addressing a joint media conference here today, State Principal Secretary (Home) VN Kaul and Director General of Police VP Singh said efforts were being made to arrest the remaining suspects, who are local tribals. The arrested persons were now in police remand till October one.

Answering a question about the possibility of a conspiracy behind the rape, they said as investigations were in progress nothing could be said at this stage.

When pointed out that three superintendents of police of Jhabua district were changed within a short span of three months, Kaul said transfers were effected due to administrative reasons, which cannot be disclosed. He also denied that the transfers had anything to do with the interference of any criminal gangs allegedly active in that tribal region.

He said atrocities againstwomen in the State, showed a declining trend. As many as 2,187 rape cases were reported during the first eight months of this year as against 2,345 during the corresponding period last year. He also claimed that the incidents of murder and attempt to murder had also declined.