Patna: A 40-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her neighbour while she was grazing cattle near her village in Jamui district on Friday afternoon. On a complaint of the victim woman, police registered an FIR on Saturday and launched a search for the accused, identified as 30-year-old Prahlad Manjhi.According to the police, the woman had gone to a field after lunch to graze her cow when the accused allegedly approached her. The woman told police that Manjhi, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, called her over on the pretext of helping him lift grass. When she refused, citing a recent surgery and her inability to carry heavy loads, she started walking towards a nearby bridge. The accused allegedly followed her.The woman said it was raining and the road was slippery. She allegedly slipped and fell, after which the accused picked her up and took her into nearby bushes. In her statement, the woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted and beaten when she resisted. She sustained injuries during the attack, she told police.Hearing her cries for help, a local resident, Narayan Chaudhary, rushed to the spot. According to him, the accused fled on seeing him. “I heard screams for help and rushed towards the bushes. The accused ran away. The woman had injuries on her body,” Chaudhary told police.After receiving information through Dial 112, the police reached the spot and shifted the woman to a community health centre for primary treatment. She was later referred to Jamui Sadar Hospital for further medical care. On Saturday morning, the victim, accompanied by villagers, reached the police station, where her statement was recorded. Based on her complaint, police registered an FIR against the accused under relevant sections of law.SHO Vikas Kumar said the woman’s statement had been recorded and she had been sent for medical examination. “The FSL team has been called. The case is being investigated and further action will be taken. The accused is a neighbour of the victim and efforts are underway to trace and arrest him. The investigation is underway.”
