Thrissur: One person has been arrested over the gang-rape of a teenage girl allegedly by her father's friends at Punnayurkulam in Thrissur district.

The accused, Kapparikkadu-native Shaji (26) has been remanded and the search is on for two others. Police suspect the accused are part of a narcotics mafia.

The alleged crime happened two months ago, but it came to light now after the girl opened up to her teacher a few days ago and the latter alerted the police.

"I wanted to report to the police and told about the ordeal to my mother; however, she refused to file the complaint," the girl stated.

The accused had approached the girl's father to buy ganja (marijuana), police stated, while indicating the man was a drug peddler.

A probe is on to ascertain if more people are involved, police added.