Patna: Despite nationwide outrage over the spate of recent rape and murder of girls, there appears to be no letup in crime against women in Bihar. Angry villagers are demanding immediate shooting of the rapists quite like the one witnessed in Hyderabad to put a check on such incidents.

Villagers in Bihar were shocked when a five-year-old girl was raped by an auto-driver in a latest incident of sexual assault. The victim with serious wounds has been admitted to a government hospital where her condition is stated to be critical.

Police said the girl along with other children was playing outside her home in Darbhanga district Friday evening when the auto-driver lured her by giving a joyride. Once she got inside, the accused drove the vehicle fast, took her to an isolated place and allegedly raped her.

Based on information given by the children, her parents launched extensive search of their daughter and then recovered her from an orchard after hearing her cries. They also caught the driver and handed him over to the police. According to the victim’s parents, the accused would have killed the girl had they reached even a little bit late as he was brandishing a knife in his hand.

“The accused has been arrested and further investigation is on,” local district superintendent of police Babu Ram told the media on Saturday. He added the victim has been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Another incident of rape was reported from neighbouring Supaul district where a teenaged girl was kidnapped by two motorcycle-borne youths, including a teacher, and gang-raped. The victim was waiting for her father outside her home Friday night when the accused allegedly gang-raped her in an abandoned government building.

In her complaint petition filed with the local police station, the victim has charged the accused persons with also assaulting her when she resisted the sexual assault. The police are investigating the case.

As the rape cases go unabated in the state, former parliamentarian Pappu Yadav has announced a reward of Rs500,000 (Dh25,778) to anyone who kills the rapists.

“Rape cases go on unabated in Bihar and the only way this could be checked is by shooting rapists dead. Whoever kills the rapists will be given Rs500,000,” Yadav said in a formal press statement issued on Saturday. He also announced to give a reward of Rs50,000 to each member of the Hyderabad police team involved in the killing of four rape suspects charged with the rape-cum-murder of veterinarian.

An official data of Bihar Crime Records Bureau states that an average one rape case is taking place every six hours in Bihar. This year, a total of 1,165 rape cases have been reported so far.