Jul 16 (IANS): Two minors, who are cousins, were gang-raped by 15 youth when they were returning from a temple in Bihar's Rohtas district on Wednesday, police said, addding a search was on for the accused.

Both the victims, students of class 6 and 7, have been admitted in a hospital in district headquarters Sasaram. "Both victims were admitted in critical condition for treatment," said a district police official.

According to police officials, the incident took place when the girls, who were accompanied by a male cousin, were returning from Tarachandi temple after offering prayers. "The accused forcibly restrained their brother and raped the two in front of him."

Police have lodged a case and launched a search operation to arrest the accused.

The victim's brother alleged that local police have reached at the incident site two hours after being informed. "Police acted as nothing has happened," he alleged.

No arrest has been made so far in the case, police said.