On Wednesday, two girl students of a madarsa run by the brother of Varanasi blasts accused Waliuallah were allegedly abducted, raped and dropped back. On Friday night, more than 48 hours after the incident, police included rape charges in the FIR.

The victims, who police said had not been willing to undergo medical examination, have undergone the procedure at Dufferin Hospital.

Some men have been picked up on suspicion, but Circle Officer Rahul Srivastava said they could be arrested only after the victims have identified them.

Allahabad DIG G.L. Meena said on Saturday, “We have a preliminary medical report and rape can be confirmed only after the pathological reports are available tomorrow.”

The girls told The Sunday Express they had been willing to record statements, but madarsa manager Wasiullah, brother of Varanasi blast accused Waliullah, had held them back. He said: “I was reluctant because it was a matter of the girls’ izzat.”

Trembling in fear, the two girls spoke of their ordeal.

The girls said there were five men, who had a dagger and pistol. The men broke into the madarsa on Wednesday and, after holding warden-cum-cook Syedunissa and a peon at gunpoint, picked them out.

They said they were dragged away and raped for two hours in a field about half a kilometre from the madarsa and then dropped back

“While leaving us back, one of them said, ‘Salaam, phir milenge 22 ko!’” said one of the victims.

They said one of their assailants had asked them what caste they were, but then another remarked, “Why ask? They are all Musalmanin.”

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