A 20-year-old woman was gangraped at knifepoint near Cheyyur in Kancheepuram district. The assaulters beat up her boyfriend before raping her at a desolate spot, reports ToI.

According to reports, the woman works at a textile shop in Koovathur, which is close to 80 km from Chennai. Her friend worked at the same shop and they often meet near Cheyyur and spent time together after work. On Monday night, they were sitting under a tree when the rapists saw them. They then allegedly brandished knives and thrashed the victim's friend.

While one of them held a knife on him, the others took turns in raping the woman at knifepoint.

"We narrowed down on the suspects after a few inquiries in the neighbourhood where some residents noticed them leaving in a hurry on their bikes," an investigating officer told ToI. Suspects reportedly admitted that they were drunk and decided to approach the couple.

The victim had alleged that her assaulters held them for more than three hours before fleeing. She has been sent to a government hospital in Chengalpet for examination.

Earlier this year, a German tourist had been raped in ECR in broad daylight. She had been exploring the area near her hotel when she was assaulted. Police are yet to identify the culprits behind the crime.