OKHALDUNGA, Dec 2: Police have arrested a 58-year-old man from Molung Rural Municipality of Okhaldunga district on the charge of raping a minor. The accused happens to be a distant grandfather of the victim. According to Police Inspector Minal Basnet, the elderly man was arrested on Wednesday following a complaint filed by the family members of the girl. The incident happened four months ago, according to the family. "We have arrested the accused, who happens to be the grandfather of the child, on the charge of raping his granddaughter. It is a four months old incident, according to the family," said Police Inspector Basnet. He added that the police have been investigating into the case.

The complaint states that the elderly man came to the girl's house when she was alone and then took her to his house, which is nearby, and raped her. Things came to the fore later only when the girl's belly started getting bigger. 

Upon inquiry, the girl told everything. When tested at the district hospital at Rumjhatar, she was found to be pregnant for 23 weeks.

According to Inspector Basnet, the girl is mentally retarded. She has been referred to the maternity hospital of Thapathali, Kathmandu for an abortion. "She is now staying at a shelter home here in the district. She may go to Thapathali hospital," he said.

Meanwhile, Kumari Tamang, manager of 'one door disaster management committee' of the district hospital stated that abortion is essential not just because it is a rape case, but also because she is a minor and she is mentally retarded.