PATNA, June 6 -- Accused in the rape of a Class 8 girl in Muzaffarpur, Mukesh Rai, surrendered a special POCSO court on Thursday when police attached his properties and a dhaba constructed on government land. He was sent to 14 days judicial custody by the court. Rai is said to be a muscleman and was absconding since May 31. The rape case was lodged against him at the Turki police station in Muzaffarpur. The police had obtained a proclamation order against him from the designated court. Later, the police moved another application seeking permission to attach Rai's property as he was untraceable. Muzaffarpur SSP Sushil Kumar confirmed his surrender and told HT that Mukesh surrendered before the court fearing arrest by the police and as the word about attachment of his properties spread. "The special court issued property attachment warrant against the rape accused in which a team of police under the supervision of SDPO arrived at his house to execute the court order. During the process of property attachment, the only accused of the case surrendered before the court," said the SSP, adding that the accused would be taken on remand and police would soon file charge sheet against the accused. Officials familiar with the matter told HT that the property attachment of Mukesh was almost complete when police got information about his surrender before the court. His dhaba (restaurant) was constructed on NH land which was also bulldozed. Meanwhile, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday said that "strongest possible punishment", after a "speedy trial", will be given to the accused in the rape and murder of a minor Dalit girl of Muzaffarpur. The Dy CM reached Kudhani where he consoled the bereaved family members of the 10-year-old who died last week, several days after receiving grievous injuries in the sexual assault. "I have taken stock of the entire situation. The accused will get the strongest possible punishment. To ensure timely justice, speedy trial will be conducted," said Sinha, while replying to mediapersons queries. Sinha, however, parried questions about the girl allegedly not getting proper treatment at a hospital in Muzaffarpur, where she was admitted, with stab wounds all over her chest and abdomen, and being referred to Patna after her condition worsened. Leader of the Opposition in state assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, who has been targeting the Nitish Kumar government over the incident, alleged that a family member of the girl was shoved by a BJP minister. The RJD leader shared on his X handle a video, in which minister Kedar Gupta, who is also the MLA from Kurhani constituency, can be seen with Sinha. Gupta can be seen ticking off a person who was pestering him with queries. Yadav, a former deputy CM himself, claimed, "This is the height of insensitivity on part of the Nitish government and its BJP ministers. When the bereaved family members flagged the negligence of the local administration, Kedar Gupta started shoving them."...