Police say they have arrested a fifth suspect and are hunting for two others in the gang rape of two teenage cousins who were later found hanging from a tree this week in northern India.

Police officer N. Malik says the fifth arrest came early today.

Facing growing criticism for a series of rapes, officials in Uttar Pradesh state - which has a long reputation for lawlessness - arrested two police officers and fired two more on Friday for failing to investigate when the father of one of the girls reported them missing.

Three other arrested men are cousins in their 20s from an extended family, and face murder and rape charges, Malik said, crimes punishable with the death penalty.

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