BIRGUNJ: An 8-year-old girl was brutally raped while grazing cattle in Patewa Sugauli Rural Municipality in Parsa district on Wednesday, police said.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajan Limbu at the Parsa District Police Office, the victim was found unconscious in a paddy field near Nichutana pond in ward 5 of the rural municipality, by her relatives.

Family members had intensified their search after the minor had failed to return home till late on that fateful day.

The victim was bleeding while being rushed to nearby Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital in Birgunj for treatment on Wednesday night, police said.

DSP Limbu said, "Deep cuts and bruises were spotted on the face, back and private parts of the victim's body."

The hospital on the same night performed an emergency operation after necessary evidences were collected by police.

Meanwhile, the minor, who is currently admitted at the Gyno ward of the hospital is in a critical condition, doctors treating the victim said.

DSP Limbu further said police have intensified search for the culprits, and a team has been deployed in the area to carry out an investigation into the case.

Earlier, the victim had left home on Wednesday afternoon to graze cattle in the area.