A middle-aged man got a taste of public anger after he allegedly attempted rape on an eight-year-old girl from his locality in Nigdi late last night.

Officials at the Nigdi police station said a mob assaulted Arjun Bulakhe (49), a notorious criminal, for the alleged rape attempt and caused a deep gash on his head before handing him over to the police.

"The agitated locals called and handed him over to us after beating him severely. We took him to the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital for treatment," said a policeman.