An 18-year-old newlywed woman was allegedly gang-raped by seven men on Saturday night in Bhithali village of Shinor taluka in Vadodara district, India.

The accused barged into the house where she and her family were sleeping and dragged her to an open field nearby. They took turns to rape her.

Times Of India reports that the woman had migrated to Bhithali few days ago with her husband and in-laws in search of work. The family was employed by a farm owner in the village to do labour work in the fields. "The woman was dragged to an isolated place in the fields by the accused. She was later found about 1.5 km far from her dwelling," said Shinor police sub-inspector J M Waghela.

Waghela added that the woman's husband rushed to the farm owner soon after she was kidnapped. The farm owner immediately called the police who rushed to the spot. "The accused had their faces covered and threatened to kill them before they abducted the woman and gang-raped her. The family is in state of shock," said Waghela. The victim's family is a native of Nishana village of Nasvadi taluka in Chota Udepur. The woman is currently being treated at the SSG Hospital.

"According to the complainant, the seven accused were between the age of 25 and 30. Investigations are on to identify the accused. We are also awaiting the victim's medical reports," said Waghela.

This is the second incident of gang rape in central Gujarat in last five days. On January 14, a 14-year-old girl was raped and murdered by four persons in village in Mahisagar district. The accused, who raped the girl, later strangled her and hung her by a tree in the forest.

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