RAUTAHAT, August 13

The locals of Malahi Tole in Garuda Municipality caught Achhelal Thakur, 48, red-handed while he was raping a woman yesterday night.

Thakur had raped a 28-year-old woman inside her house at night.

The locals took him under control and handed him over to the Area Police Office in Garuda.

Chandu Shahi, a local, said that the accused had entered the house as the victim’s husband was away and other family members were sleeping in other rooms.

“We heard the woman scream for help at night,” Shahi added.

Meanwhile, inspector Shantulal Prasad Jaiswal of Area Police Office, Garuda said that the accused has been kept in custody and further investigation into the case was under way.

DSP Sudhir Raj Shahi said that five persons were charged for involvement in the case and four others were at large. Police have been searching for them, he informed.

According to statistics at District Police Office, as many as seven women including five minor girls had been raped in Rautahat in the last three months. treatment at Hetauda-based Churehill Hospital. — HNS