New Delhi, June 30: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condemned the vicious abduction and rape of an eight-year-old in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur, calling it a sickening incident. The Gandhi scion appealed for speedy justice in the case.

"In Mandsaur, MP, an 8-year-old girl was kidnapped and gang raped, and is battling for her life. The brutality this young child was subjected to sickens me. As a nation, we must come together to protect our children and bring the attackers to speedy justice," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

The minor was abducted and raped by two youths - Irfan Khan (20) and Asif (24). As per the preliminary investigation, Irfan allegedly abducted the girl on Tuesday when she was waiting for her father at the bus stand. After sexually assaulting the child, he slit her throat in a bid to kill her. The victim is currently undergoing treatment and her condition is reported to be critical.

During police interrogation, Irfan named Asif as his accomplice in the crime. Both of them were arrested on Friday.

The brutal rape, which was reminiscent to the Nirbhaya gangrape case of 2012, drew sharp condemnation from all quarters. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he would ensure the perpetrators of assault are hanged to death.

Meanwhile, the Muslim community in Mandsaur has disowned the two accused involved in the crime. "There is no place for such a monster in the community. He should be hanged,” said Waqf Anjuman Islam Committee Sadar Mohd Yunus Sheikh, further promising that they would not be granted burial space in the graveyards of Mandsaur.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 30, 2018 03:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).