A school van driver was arrested for raping a 12-year-old girl in south Delhi’s RK Puram, police said on Sunday. Police said the 22-year-old driver, Nitish Kumar, confessed to having sexually assaulted the girl twice in the past. “Kumar lives in the same locality as the victim. He was caught by members of the residents’ welfare association while assaulting the girl on Saturday night. Kumar was beaten up by the residents and handed over to the police,” said an officer.

The girl — a student of class 5 in a government school — was taken to the AIIMS trauma centre, where a medical examination confirmed rape.

Kumar told the police he had sexually assaulted the girl for the first time in December 2011 and again in January this year.

“Every time, Kumar would threaten the victim with dire consequences if she complained against him. A case of rape has been registered and the investigation has begun,” the officer said.