Jan 30, 2009 (DVB), A 16-year-old girl has reported to North Okkalapa police station that she was raped by three soldiers on the night of 20 January at the Mae Lamut pagoda festival.

Some monks who discovered the incident, which took place near a rail track at the pagoda festival, took the girl to the festival supervision office.

The monks also chased the three fleeing soldiers and managed to capture a 46-year-old sergeant from No. 435 soldier recruiting corps and took him to the police station.

The sergeant reportedly shouted abuse at the monks and told them to report the incident to anyone they liked, and there were some minor injuries in the ensuing scuffle with the police.

An officer on duty at North Okkalapa police station said an incidence of rape had been reported to the station.

The officer said the two other soldiers had not yet been apprehended and interrogations had not revealed any further leads.

The sergeant was taken away from his base by officers on 21 January.

Reporting by Aye Nai