The accused, Sheikh Munna, 45, was arrested for allegedly raping the girl, who is in a critical condition and is being treated at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, a senior officer of the Kolkata Police said.
The alleged incident took place last evening when the victim was playing with her brother. Munna dragged the girl inside the parked bus on Canal (West) Road in north Kolkata after luring her with a chocolate, the officer said.
The boy continued banging on the bus door and when there was no response, he ran to inform their mother, who is a widowed rag-picker.
"The woman alerted her neighbours who rushed to the bus and rescued the girl from the accused. They thrashed him before informing the police," the officer said.
Also Read
"The girl was found lying in a pool of blood on a bus seat. Her clothes were torn and she was bleeding profusely," he said, adding that the accused had blood on his hands and trousers when he was arrested.
According to doctors at the state-run medical facility, the girl was bleeding profusely when she was brought to the hospital.
"Her condition has improved since last night and possibly she will survive. Signs are clear that she had been brutalised," one senior doctor said.
Forensic experts have also collected blood samples and stains from the bus which has been seized, the officer added.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content