Idukki (Kerala) | Two persons, including a minor, from Tamil Nadu were held on Saturday for allegedly sexually assaulting two school students whom they befriended through social media at Munnar here, officials said.

Police said that they have arrested Sharavanan of Didigul, and a minor boy was also taken into custody following a detailed probe into the incident.

According to police officials, the complainants study at a school far from their house and live in a hostel.

On Monday, while on their way to school, they met the two accused, whom they had previously befriended on Instagram, police said.

The suspects allegedly invited the girls to a nearby lodge, where they were held and sexually assaulted for two days, officials said.

The incident came to light on Wednesday when the students returned to school.

Following an inquiry by their teachers regarding their absence, the girls disclosed the assault, police said.

The school authorities subsequently informed the parents and the police.

Munnar police registered a case into the incident on Thursday, and recorded detailed statements from the students.

Police said that, based on the victims' statements and an examination of the Instagram accounts, the accused persons were taken into custody from their native places. Police said that the accused persons are being interrogated.