Police on Sunday rescued a six-year-old girl 20 days after she was raped by her own relative in Nangkholyang VDC in the district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Shanti Raj Koirala said the victim’s uncle had raped the minor after luring her with false assurances on February 21 and fled the village two days later. Koirala said that police have intensified their hunt for the perpetrator. The incident had come to light when police constable Ramina Rai reached Nangkholyang VDC to participate in an awareness programme regarding violence against women on March 12. Rai had called up DSP Koirala and informed about the incident after hearing rumours about the incident during the programme. According to police head constable Chyawan Chauhan, a member of the police rescue team, the villagers were trying to settle the case in the village itself by ordering the guilty to provide compensation to the victim. While the victim is currently being treated at the District Hospital, doctors said that her wounds have not healed even after three weeks of treatment. In an attempt to hush up the incident, the victim’s family had procured some ointments generally used to heal wounds and lacerations instead of taking her to a medical facility. “We had brought her to the hospital as it is our first priority to ensure the well-being of the child,” said police, adding that they have started an investigation into the matter by filing a charge-sheet against the perpetrator after taking the victim’s statement. Meanwhile, police have arrested the perpetrator’s mother after accusing her of helping him flee the village to avoid arrest. However, police later released her under the condition that she presents her son before the police. As per the law, those who commit the heinous crime of rape cannot be charged with rape if the victim does not file a complaint within 35 days from the incident. This has become a major hindrance in the efforts of both the police as well as social activists to minimise rape cases. In a similar case, police have arrested a youth from Sanghu for trying to settle a rape case by giving two tolas of gold to his victim in compensation.