Patna, Jan 31 (IANS): A man was arrested in Bihar's Madhubani district Saturday for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl and then hanging her naked from a tree, police said.

This shocking incident occurred at a village near Keoti in Madhubani, about 200km from here.

The victim suffered serious injuries in her private parts and is battling for her life in Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, a family member said.

According to police, the victim along with her mother Thursday visited a private nursing home near their village to inquire about her grandmother, who was undergoing treatment there.

"When the victim was playing in the room, a man entered and started talking with her and then took her in his arms to buy her a packet of snacks from a nearby shop. Her family did not object, taking him to be nursing home staff. But when the victim did not return even after half an hour they began searching for her...she was found hanging naked from a tree in a nearby garden Friday morning.

"The accused had first raped her and then left her hanging naked from a tree in biting cold," police said.

Her family took her to neighbouring Darbhanga for treatment.

The accused, a youth in his 20s, was arrested after a tip off by people from a village near the nursing home.