Bhubaneswar, March 12: Residents of Baliguali village, five kilometres from Puri town, blocked the Puri-Konark marine drive for more than two hours today. They gheraoed Sadar police station demanding a rape accused to be handed over to them.

The accused, Babu Behera, 33, had allegedly raped an eight-year-old girl in the early hours today.

The girl who was watching jatra (open air theatre) near her village with some relatives had gone to a toilet alone around 4am. The accused had allegedly dragged her to a nearby jungle and assaulted her. The profusely bleeding girl narrated the incident to her relatives. They immediately rushed her to Sadar hospital. The victim, a Class II student, was said to be critical.

“She told us when she went to the toilet, the accused followed her, dragged her to a jungle and gagged her mouth with his hands. He assaulted her at the point of knife,” said a relative of the girl adding that she had seen the accused earlier in the area, though she did not know him by name.

Following a complaint from the girl’s father, the Sadar police registered a case. A scientific team and dog squad visited the spot. The dog squad showed Behera’s house and the girl identified him as the accused.

Police said Behera who resided in the same locality was a known goon. He was taken into custody.

Later, the local residents gathered and blocked the marine drive connecting Puri and Konark. They demanded the accused to be handed over to them.

“He raped a little girl and her condition is critical. We will punish this man and it will be a lesson for others. It will instill fear among potential criminals,” said Siba Behera, a villager.

Several tourist buses were seen stranded on both sides of the road because of the blockade. Later, senior police officials rushed to the spot and convinced the angry mob to end their protest.

In the afternoon, the protesters reassembled and gheraoed the Sadar police station demanding stringent action against the accused and arrest of other people, those involved in the incident. Ravi Behera, a local Samajwadi party leader said they demanded the government to compensate and take care of the victim’s medical treatment.

“The protesters ended their agitation after we assured them that we will file the charge-sheet as soon as possible and try our best to ensure speedy trial,” said Madhav Sahu sub-divisional police officer.

Police conducted a medical examination of the accused and forwarded him to the court in the evening.