Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (IANS): Police Saturday detained three people for questioning in connection with the gang-rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in Odisha's Ganjam district, police said.

"We have detained three persons in this connection. They are being questioned," sub-divisional police officer R.C. Sethi told IANS.

The barbaric incident occurred Thursday night near Balisahi village, about 170 km from here.

A post-mortem examination conducted on the body, recovered Friday, revealed that the girl was raped before being murdered.

Quoting her family members, police said the girl had gone to a nearby field with her father Thursday, and left for home alone. Her father returned home in the evening but did not find her.

Family members and other villagers searched for her and found her dead near a mango orchard with her hands and legs tied. Two heavy stones had been placed on her body which also bore injury marks.

Villagers Friday informed police who rushed to the site and sent the body for post-mortem examination.

"The preliminary investigation indicated that she was strangled after being raped by more than one person. We have not arrested any one so far. Investigation is still underway," the official said.