An 11-year-old girl of Shikhar Aambote VDC was raped while returning home after playing Deusi on the day of Laxmi Puja at Phalange of the VDC in Kavre. The accused rapist-Umesh Lama, 19, of the VDC had raped the girl while she was returning home, said police. According to DSP Raj Kumar KC, the victim complained to the police that Umesh had raped her after sending her brother and sisters home on November 11 at around 9:00 pm. Umesh is a grade VIII student at a local school. The victim told her mother the details of the incident. Then her mother, along with the locals, had taken the accused under control and handed him over to the police the same night. The victim’s family said that Umesh’s family had lured them with money to make them release Umesh. “I was told they would offer money. They pleaded with me to convince my daughter to say there was no such incident,” said the victim’s mother. It is said that some local leaders have put pressure on the victim’s family to settle the issue at the local level. Meanwhile, Kavre Police said the case was serious and they were examining it very closely. DSP KC said police would investigate the case minutely. Earlier, a 75-year-old man had attempted to rape a 13-year-old girl at the same VDC about one month ago. Police said that as many as three to five rape and attempt to rape cases have been taking place since one month in Kavre. Police said they are preparing to launch a public awareness programme in areas where such incidents have been repeated.