Cuttack, Aug. 11: Even as more number of rape cases is hitting the headlines across the country, another horrendous crime on a 13-year-old in Darghabazar area has left the residents shaken.

A 55-year-old man was booked for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl. The victim, suspected to be pregnant, had been sent for medical test. The accused, Seikh Hujir, is on the run after the incident came to light yesterday.

“Efforts are on to nab the culprit,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

Police said Hujir, a scrap vendor, was staying on rent at the residence of the victim for the last couple of years.

“The man often used to misbehave with me. I could not say anything to my parents as he had threatened me with dire consequences,” said the victim. The family members came to know about the incident on August 7 after their daughter complained of acute pain in the abdomen.

“We had no idea that he had committed such a heinous crime. We came to know after the doctor asked us to conduct a few tests,” said the victim’s mother.

Local residents today staged a demonstration accusing the Mahila police of not acting on time. According to them, the police failed to take action immediately after the family lodged the complaint last night.

“We demand adequate compensation for the victim and immediate arrest of the culprit,” said Giribala Behera, councillor of ward no 4.