Uttar Pradesh rape: Suspects confess to gangrape and killing of girls; CBI to probe case

Lucknow: Three detained suspects have confessed to the gang-rape and slaying of two teenage girls who were found hanging from a tree in Uttar Pradesh last week, police said on Sunday.

The search for two additional suspects continued for the fourth day on Sunday, police officer Atul Saxena said.

Saxena said that police were preparing identity sketches of the two missing suspects based on descriptions provided by the arrested suspects in the tiny village of Katra, about 300 kilometers (180 miles) from Lucknow, the state capital.

The three suspects identified as Pappu Yadav, Awdesh Yadav , Urvesh Yadav detained so far in the attack are cousins in their 20s from an extended family, and they face murder and rape charges.

Authorities also have arrested two police officers and suspended another two for failing to investigate when the father of one of the teenagers reported the girls missing.

CBI is expected to take over investigation into the crime this week, Saxena said.

On Saturday, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had met the family of the sisters and demanded strict action against the accused. Chief of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayawati also met the girls and lashed out at the Akhilesh Yadav led Uttar Pradesh government for failing to contain crime in the state.

She also demanded president's rule in the state, saying that its condition was pitiable. Congress leader Meira Kumar too met the kin of the girls late Saturday afternoon.

Watch: Rahul Gandhi reacts after meeting families of the two Dalit sisters who were raped and murdered

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