Bikaner villagers protest minor's rape

Villagers in Rajasthan's Bikaner district Tuesday protested the rape of a 15-year-old girl in her school bus at gun point four days ago.

The school bus driver was arrested Monday. However, villagers demanded that local policemen be removed for their failure to act in time.

According to police, the rape occurred April 26 in a village near Khajuwala town in the district, 500 km from Jaipur.

"The girl was on her way to the village market when the school bus driver Rajesh Vishnoi offered her lift. As she knew him, she boarded the bus. The girl fell unconscious after drinking water from a bottle offered by the driver," said a police officer.

"Vishnoi raped the girl several times," he added.

"When the girl gained consciousness, he pointed a gun at her and told her not to report the matter. He dropped her near her home," said the officer.

"Cases of minor girls being raped are increasing with police failing to take action against the culprits in time," said Shravan Kumar, a local.

The villagers also demanded that the state government announce a compensation for the victim's family.