An raging wave of rape has gripped Sunsari. In the past six months, more than 16 girls and women have been raped, two were killed after being gang raped. A government probe committee formed recently under Home Ministry has found the incidents are rising due to the negligence of the police and their compliance with the rapists. Some policemen even rape the victims who come to them for help. On 6 August, a 13-year-old girl was brutally raped by Sub-Inspector Sanubabu Rajbangsi of the Debanganj police office. She had been raped the day before by local businessman Narayan Shah and was in police protection. Shah had lured her from her home in Morang, promising to marry her. He took her on a cycle and brought her to Sunsari's Subba Tol. Local villagers found her bleeding, and took her to the police for help. The same night, a drunken Rajbangsi raped her, despite protests from other police staff. When they tried to stop him, he threatened to shoot them. They were forced to stand by and listen to the painful cries of the child in the next room. She is now under the care of an NGO in Biratnagar. The businessman has been arrested, but the policeman disappeared. This was not the first time for Rajbangsi, he had recently tried to rape a female police colleague at gunpoint when he was drunk. No action was taken against him.