Eight-year-old girl cries rape

Neighbours beat up man who allegedly raped minor, after victim told mother about her ordeal

In a shocking incident, an eight-year-old girl from Nigdi's Yamuna Nagar was allegedly raped less than two metres away from her building.

According to a complaint lodged by the girl's parents at Nigdi police station, the girl had gone to fetch milk from a shop near her building.

"The accused identified as Savta alias Suraj Bhagwan Ranpise who owns a furniture shop called Suraj Furniture close to her building called her into his shop. She knew him and he lured her with a box of chocolates. Once inside the shop, he allegedly raped her and then let her go warning her not to tell anyone," said the officer on duty. The girl's mother however, suspected something was wrong looking at the girl's disheveled state and raised an alarm.

The society members learnt of the incident around 10 pm and then rounded up the accused and roughed him up until the police arrived. Doctors at Pimpri's YCM hospital confirmed the news of his being assaulted.

Meanwhile, the victim was taken to Sassoon Hospital for a medical examination. "Tests will be conducted today," said a casualty medical officer at Sassoon.