Police arrested three people on Tuesday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a speech-impaired woman in Chhagalnaiya upazila of Feni.

One of the arrestees was identified as Shakib, 18, of Uttar Choygharia village in the upazila. The identities of the remaining two suspects were withheld as they are minors. All three are reportedly battery-run easy-bike drivers.

According to police and the victim's family, the trio allegedly called the woman to an abandoned house at Choygharia under Subhapur union on Friday noon on the pretext of providing her with financial assistance.

They allegedly raped her before leaving her there.

The incident came to light later, following which some local influential people arranged village arbitration on Monday night. The accused were reportedly fined Tk 10,000 each, totalling Tk 30,000.

The victim's family alleged that an attempt was made to suppress the incident through the informal arbitration without informing police.

Local Subhapur Union Parishad Member Moksed Alam said he did not attend the arbitration as there was no scope for settling a serious criminal offence such as gang rape through such a process. “I told the family members of the woman to take legal action,” he said.

Later, the victim's husband filed a case at Chhagalnaiya Police Station, said its Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abu Taher.

He said police arrested the three suspects in an early morning raid on Tuesday.

The victim was sent to Feni General Hospital for medical examination, the OC said, adding that legal action will be taken against anyone found to have attempted to suppress the incident through arbitration, based on the findings of the investigation.