An 18-year-old youth was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping a minor in Rampur Barihat panchayat area.

The accused, identified as Mohammed Sahid, is a resident of Rampur Barihat under the jurisdiction of Rupauli police station, around 395km northeast of Patna.

He allegedly lured the six-year-old victim to an autorickshaw parked at a desolate place near a mango orchard on the outskirts of the village on Tuesday evening and raped her, police said. The victim had gone to the orchard to collect mangoes.

The parents of the girl lodged a case of rape against Sahid at Rupauli police station on Wednesday morning. She has been admitted to Purnea sadar hospital, where she was examined.

Purnea superintendent of police (SP) Kim said: “We have arrested the rape accused today (Wednesday) and produced him before the chief judicial magistrate Daya Lal Prasad. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody at Purnea Central Jail for 14 days.”

She said: “I’m supervising the case. We are trying to file a chargesheet within 24 hours. We shall appeal for a speedy trial so that the accused can be punished soon.”

The SP said a swift judgment in the case would prove to be a deterrent for such crimes in the future. “The medical report has not come yet. As soon as it comes, we shall present the chargesheet,” she said.

Another rape had occurred on Monday at Harpatti village under the jurisdiction of Banmankhi police station. The victim was seven years old.

“The accused, Mritunjay Kumar Mandal, was arrested within hours of the rape being reported. We filed the chargesheet today (Wednesday), and requested the court for speed trial,” said Kim.

Another person, accused of raping a six-year-old in Samastipur district was awarded a life sentence on June 8 after the accusations were proved in court with the help of forensic evidence, three months after the crime.