The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken suo moto cognisance of the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl by eight men at a village in Palghar district and directed police to take stringent action against the culprits, the panel's chairperson, Rupali Chakankar, has said.

The incident took place during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The accused, including a friend of the girl, allegedly raped her at an unoccupied bungalow in the beach village before taking her to the seashore where they again sexually assaulted her, a police official earlier said.