ORANGE WALK DISTRICT–The stepfather of a 6-year-old girl is in police custody after he allegedly raped the girl at their home, in a village in the Orange Walk District. The little girl was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital, where she was treated.

The incident occurred on Sunday. The child had been left alone with her stepfather, 37, who, after raping her, ran away.

When the girl’s mother returned home, she found her young daughter injured.

The chairman of the village in which the family resides, in collaboration with police and the villagers, launched a manhunt for the stepfather. A reward of $500 was offered for his capture.

Yesterday, Tuesday, a man who lives in the village singlehandedly captured the stepfather in a cane field, and took him to the police, who immediately arrested him.