Patna, Nov. 21: The RJD today cornered chief minister Nitish Kumar over the alleged rape of an Extremely Backward Class (EBC) minor by an upper caste man.

Addressing a news meet at the party office today, RJD state president Ram Chandra Purbey and Rajya Sabha member Ramkripal Yadav demanded the culprit’s immediate arrest and speedy trial into the case.

“The Nitish government will complete its sixth year very soon but cases of rape, murder and dacoity don’t seem to cease in Bihar, the latest being the rape of an eight-year-old from Jehanabad. The victim belonged to the barber community has been raped in daylight at Kewur village. Her family members are running from pillar to post to seek justice. Though the police have registered a case, the culprit is yet to be arrested,” Purbey said.

The RJD state president added: “Our party strongly condemns the barbaric act during Nitish’s regime where people from the lower caste are being tortured and exploited. The culprits are roaming fearlessly in the open. The law and order has completely deteriorated in the state. Cases of dacoity, robbery and murder are on the rise. We demand the immediate arrest of the culprit and a speedy trial. If this is not done, we will start an intensive protest against the Nitish Kumar government.”

Yadav, on the other hand, accused Nitish of protecting the criminals. “The government is protecting the criminals and it provides all possible support to them. It seems there is no law and order system in the state and people from the lower caste are living in constant fear. The recent example is that of the minor girl from Jehanabad, whose family has been forced to leave the village after receiving constant threats from the accused.”

On Nitish’s Seva Yatra, Yadav said: “In the name of Seva Yatra, he (Nitish) is fooling the people of Bihar and wasting their money. It’s nothing more than a preparation for the next Lok Sabha election. Even his janata darbar at 1, Aney Marg, is all gimmick to project himself as the people’s representative.”