A five-year-old girl was raped by a 14-year-old boy at Balrampur village under the police station of the same name in Katihar district on Sunday evening.
"The accused boy was arrested after the mother of the victim lodged a complaint at the Balrampur police station", Katihar superintendent of police Kim told HT on Monday.
"Villagers caught the boy in the act and handed him over to the local police", the SP said. "The boy had been put in a remand home and would be tried under the provisions of the juvenile justice act", she added.
Informed sources said the girl was playing near her house on Sunday evening when the accused lured her to a secluded place by offering her toffees and forced himself upon her.
Hearing the child's cries, villagers rushed to the spot and caught the boy.
The victim, who was bleeding, was rushed to the Telta primary health centre near Balrampur.
From there, she was referred to the Katihar hospital for her medical examination and treatment.