Lucknow, Feb 23 (IANS) As many as 13 women were allegedly gangraped by armed bandits at a brick kiln, reportedly owned by ruling Samajwadi Party leader O.P. Singh, in eastern Uttar Pradesh, police said.

While the incident took place in a remote village in Ballia district, about 400 km from here, around midnight Wednesday, information reached the state headquarters Friday. Director General of Police Bua Singh gave instructions to register a case.

"The Ballia police have registered a case of gangrape against unidentified armed bandits who were also alleged to have looted personal belongings of the women including their jewellery. The women were engaged as ordinary labour at the brick kiln in Sihoridih village under Bhimpur police station," Singh told IANS here.

However, police have not made any arrest yet.