Lucknow, Sep 7 (IANS) An 85-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district was gang-raped inside her house in what police have described as a despicable crime.

The victim, a native of Kauri village in Hardoi, was raped by two youngsters of her own village late Monday.

'The two, apparently in an inebriated condition, sneaked into her house, started assaulting her and later raped her after stuffing a cloth in her mouth,' police inspector Brijesh Pandey told reporters Tuesday in Hardoi, some 110 km from here.

'The accused are absconding. However, we have received vital inputs that will help us nab them very soon,' he added.

Family members of the accused - Chander and Sohan, both in their mid 20s - have also been detained by the police.

'The victim is being treated for injuries in a hospital. It appears the woman is in deep shock. Though she is conscious, she is not ready to speak to anyone,' Pandey said.

The victim used to live alone inside her thatched house on the outskirts of the Kauri village.