Girl, 5, raped on moving bus in Bihar

INCIDENT CAME TO LIGHT AFTER VICTIM BLED PROFUSELY AND CRIED FOR HELP

Afive-year-old girl was allegedly raped on a moving bus in Bihar on Saturday, sparking protests. The incident took place in the Siwan district of the state, officials said.

It comes days after the Narendra Modi government approved the death penalty in cases involving the rape of children below 12 years of age.

Reports said the victim was travelling with her mother on the bus when a middle-aged man offered to carry the child on his lap, as the bus was crowded.

The unsuspecting woman allowed her daughter to sit on his lap.

Suspect gets a beating

As the bus picked up speed, the man allegedly began sexually assaulting her and finally raped her.

The incident came to light after the victim bled profusely and cried for help.

Angry passengers then caught hold of the suspect and gave him a sound beating before handing him over to the police.

“We have arrested the accused while the victim girl has been rushed to hospital for medical examination,” a local police official in charge of investigation Birendra Ram told journalists.

A few days ago, a college girl was gang-raped by her Facebook friend and his companions at a city lodge in Patna.

The student had travelled to meet the Facebook friend in Patna when she fell victim to the group’s assault.

Police have arrested six suspects.

Incidents of rape remain a matter of grave concern in Bihar and according to an official report, a total of 289 incidents of rape were reported as of March this year. Last year, a total of 1,198 rape cases were reported, compared to 1,008 incidents in 2016 and 1,041 in 2015.

Prior tot that, 1,127 cases were reported in 2014 and 1,128 in 2013.