7-year-old girl raped in West Champaran

Bettiah: A youth allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl at a village in West Champaran district on Sunday evening. He reportedly lured the child away and took her to a secluded field south of the village, where he committed the crime. The minor is undergoing treatment at a govt hospital in Bettiah, police said on Monday.According to the complaint filed by the victim’s family, the accused had been staying with relatives in the same village. The incident came to light when the girl did not return home by late evening, prompting her family and villagers to launch an extensive search that continued through the night. On Monday morning, villagers found the child lying unconscious and covered in blood near a tree.After regaining consciousness, the victim narrated the incident to her mother, following which the police were informed. “The victim has been sent to Bettiah for medical examination. We have identified the accused, and multiple raids are underway to arrest him. A case under relevant sections of the Pocso Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered,” said Bagaha SP Ramanand Kaushal, who also visited the spot.