Bhopal, July 2: Denying any pre-planned conspiracy, the accused nabbed for brutally raping an 8-year-old girl in Mandsaur told police the heinous act was committed in "spur-of-the-moment".

During the course of interrogation, accused Irfan said he was loitering when he spotted the the girl waiting outside the school. Nearly after 10 minutes, he approached the girl and lured her to come with him by "promising sweets", said CSP Rakesh Mohan Shukla.

After taking the girl to Laxman Darwaza - the secluded gate of a ruined fort mostly covered in bushes - he called his friend Asif. The duo then raped the girl and slit her throat before fleeing away, the police official added.

The victim was found shortly by locals, who called the police and rushed her to the nearest medical facility.

The minor is currently undergoing treatment, with her condition being reported to have improved.

Notably, the girl on being found had claimed she was assaulted by "three men". The police, however, claims the assault was perpetrated by the two accused only.

The victim is currently unable to record her statement before the police as she has been traumatised.

The investigators said the brutality of the rape case is reminiscent to the 2012 Nirbhaya case. A wooden object or rod, the police claimed, was inserted into the 8-year-old to draw out her entrails.

The rape case sparked massive outrage, with locals staging a march in Mandsaur and Neemuch district demanding action against the accused at the earliest. A day bandh was also called by the protesters on June 24 -- two days after the girl was raped.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while addressing a gathering earlier in the day, said he would not rest till the accused involved in the heinous crime are sent to the gallows.

Irfan (24) and Asif (20) have admitted to their crimes. Under the amended POCSO Act, the charges levelled against them attract a maximum punishment of death. The local Muslim community has vowed to grant their burial space in the graveyards of Mandsaur.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2018 12:07 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).