Police have arrested seven men for their suspected involvement in the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Badarkahli of Chakaria upazila in Cox's Bazar.

They were arrested from different areas of Moheshkhali upazila between Monday night and yesterday morning, said Jasim Uddin, additional superintendent of police in Cox's Bazar, without revealing the names.

The ASP said the arrestees were sent to jail via a court order.

The victim, who was allegedly gang-raped by eight to ten men, was receiving treatment at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, he said.

The incident has enraged the locals who have been assisting police in identifying and catching the culprits, said Alauddin Alo, a local journalist of Bodorkhali.

Since the incident, protest programmes -- road blockades, human chains, and processions -- have been held in Cox's Bazar Sadar, Moheshkhali, and Chakaria demanding the arrest of the perpetrators and their trial.

Hundreds of people also staged a demonstration yesterday in Moheshkhali.

The journalist said after receiving information that three alleged rapists had taken shelter at a shrimp enclosure in Shaplapur of Moheshkhali, locals along with police surrounded them and apprehended them.

The victim was gang-raped at Badarkhali union in Chakaria upazila around 10:00pm on Sunday, when the girl, who lives in Moheshkhali upazila, was returning home from Banshkhali upazila, Chattogram.

According to the victim's statement, she was abducted at knifepoint and raped by 8 to 10 men near the Bodorkhali bridge, said Manjur Kader Bhuyan, officer-in-charge of Chakaria Police Station.

She boarded a CNG-run autorickshaw from the Badarkahli Ferry Ghat area. However, the driver abandoned her midway near the Badarkhali Bridge saying the vehicle had some mechanical issues.

As she was walking back towards the ferry ghat area, two men abducted her at knifepoint, the OC said, quoting the victim.

Later, six others joined the perpetrators in raping her.

After the incident, the girl made her way back to the ferry ghat, where with the help of locals she was admitted to Badarkhali General Hospital.