Uttar Pradesh police today said that they have arrested four persons accused of gangrape during riots in Phugana village last year.

The accused identified as Mohit, Rahul, Sunny and Sanjeev were arrested on Monday and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.

The Special Investigation team (SIT) probing the riots said that the four accused were absconding and the court has already initiated attachment proceedings against them.

The SIT had found that 22 persons were involved in five gangrape cases. The police have arrested 8 accused so far and the search is on for 14 remaining accused.

The communal riots which broke out in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas last year claimed 60 lives and left over 40,000 homeless.