A 15-year-old girl jumped off the third floor of a building to escape from the clutches of her would-be rapists in Lakhisarai district, around 140km northeast of Patna, late on Thursday night.
The girl, a Class IX student of a government school, received serious injuries and is struggling for life in the Lakhisarai Sadar hospital. Local residents had found her in a semi-nude condition on Chitrajnan Road and admitted her to the local hospital. The girl allegedly seemed drunk when she was spotted around midnight on Thursday.
Police said that the girl had gone to her friend’s house after attending a fair. She was offered some soft drinks by a group of youths there.
Police said that the youths had spike her drink, and tried to sexually assault her.
Finding no way out, she jumped off the third floor of the house.
Lakhisarai district magistrate Shaubhendra Kumar and superintendent of police (SP) Kartikey Sharma rushed to the hospital and inquired about the condition of the girl. The officials assured her relatives of all possible help.
As news about rape attempt spread in the town, a large number of residents rushed to the hospital. Later a group of residents blocked the road and paralysed traffic near Shaheed Dwar. The police had to lathicharge to disperse the protesters who were demanding immediate arrest of the accused.
SP Sharma said that a few bottles of liquor and clothes of the girl have been found from the roof of the house in which a friend of the girl was living on rent.
“Prima facie it seems that she was offered liquor by youths following which she fell unconscious. Then the youths attempted to rape her,” he added.
When she jumped off the third floor of the building, the girl came in contact with a live high-voltage electric wire and suffered burn injuries. Both her legs and hands have been fractured as well.
“Her condition is stated to be critical,” the SP said, adding that two youths and the girl’s friend have been detained for interrogation.
Lakhisarai sub-divisional police officer Manish Kumar said that 15 persons were taken into custody for putting up the road blockade and stopping public servants from discharging official duty. The protesters, sources said, were associated with a particular political party.