Imphal, Feb. 28: A six-year-old rape victim today succumbed to injuries at a hospital here, barely a fortnight since the incident, triggering public outrage.

The child, who had been undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here, succumbed to her injuries at 4.20am today.

According to police, she was raped by a 14-year-old boy at the girl's village, Chinikul in Senapati district, on February 15 evening and was abandoned near a pond the same evening.

She suffered multiple injuries, the police said.

She was first admitted to a local health centre and then referred to the Imphal hospital in a critical condition on the same night.

The accused, who also hailed from Chinikul village, was arrested two days after the crime. He is now detained at a juvenile home here.

The victim hailed from Tamenglong district and had been staying with her relatives at Chinikul village in Senapati district under the Bishnupur police station area.

The police said the girl had gone out of her residence around 6.30pm and did not return home for many hours, following which a search operation was launched.

A search party failed to find her in the first attempt.

The second time, she was found near the pond, shivering and crying, with her legs covered in mud.

The girl told her relatives that the accused had taken her to a shed, about 3km from her house, and raped her twice.

A joint action committee f ormed by organisations of the Zeliangrong community today took out a protest march in the afternoon from RIMS, demanding action against the accused.

The police stopped the march at a road crossing near RIMS. However, a delegation of the protesters was allowed to go to the chief minister's office.

They submitted a memorandum to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, demanding the passing of a legislation in the ongoing Assembly session to deal with crimes against women and children.

The memorandum also demanded an inquiry, alleging the negligence of doctors and other medical staff at RIMS and severe punishment for the accused.

"The accused raped her twice. She could not walk. The culprit should be brought to book according to law. We will not rest until he is punished," Panti Golmei, the convener of the committee, said.