Two-and-a-half-year-old girl raped; accused arrested in Saharsa district

Patna: A person was taken into custody in Saharsa district on Wednesday in connection with the rape of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl. The child was allegedly abducted by a neighbouring accused while playing outside her house on Tuesday and later found unconscious. She was taken to Saharsa Sadar Hospital after primary treatment and remains in a critical condition.According to the complaint, the child was playing near the entrance of her house when the 26-year-old neighbouring accused allegedly covered her with a towel and took her away. She was later found unconscious in a bamboo grove, with her clothes dishevelled.According to the father, “Around 12 noon on Tuesday, when he was sleeping at home, the child was playing near the door of the house. Meanwhile, Rajkumar Sharma, a villager, arrived at the spot and picked up the child in his arms, covering her with a gamcha so that no one would suspect.”The family became aware of the incident when a villager informed them that the child was lying injured near a bamboo grove about 1 km from their home. Family members and villagers rushed to the spot and immediately took her to hospital.Doctors at Saharsa Sadar Hospital said, “Serious injuries were found in the child's private parts, and her condition is critical due to heavy bleeding. After primary treatment late Tuesday night, she was referred to a higher centre in Bhagalpur for better treatment.”SDPO Ajit Kumar said police received information around 3:30 pm on Tuesday that a minor girl had been raped and admitted to hospital in a serious condition.“An FSL team was sent to the crime scene to collect evidence from there. The accused was taken into custody and is being interrogated,” the SDPO said.