A 17-year-old girl out on a joyride with her friend was abducted by five gun-toting men around 16km from the steel city on Wednesday night. After personnel from five police stations started a search, the men released the girl near Tatanagar station around midnight.

The girl, who is injured and traumatised, is undergoing treatment at MGM Medical College Hospital.

She underwent a medical examination for rape but the report is still awaited, said Seraikela-Kharsawan superintendent of police (SP) Karthik S.

“We are trying to identify the criminals but after the girl, who is still in trauma, gives her statement we will be able to go ahead with the investigation more effectively,” SP Karthik told The Telegraph.

The shocking incident happened on Dobo-Kanderbera Road under the jurisdiction of the Kapali police outpost in Chandil police station area.

The girl’s friend, who studies in Chandigarh, had come home on vacation and had taken her for a ride at around 9.30pm. They reached Domuhani bridge by his car, and had spent some time on the bridge.

“After that, we proceeded toward Kanderbera on the Dobo-Kanderbera road which connects the Domuhani bridge,” the friend said. “As we were about to reach Kanderbera, five armed youth stopped us. They assaulted us. They forced me to go away from the spot and disappeared into the darkness on foot, dragging away my friend,” said the youth.

The young man then called some of his friends in the steel city who informed the police. Personnel from five police stations, Azadnagar, Mango, Bistupur, Jugsalai and the Kapali outpost, started a search for the girl along the unlit Dobo-Kandera road, in the adjoining residential area, and in the bushes.

Police sources said they are questioning the girl and trying to find out if her modesty was outraged before her abductors released her. She is learnt to have said that after the five men abducted her, some more criminals joined them and they were looking for a secluded place.