Police said the girl was waiting for a bus near Colva beach - 40 km from here - with her elder sister, also a minor, Tuesday night when the accused offered them sweets. He then took them to the beach and raped the 11-year-old girl behind a bush.
"We have filed an FIR (first information report) after we learnt about the incident today (Wednesday) morning. We have some leads and we are looking for the accused," a police official said. The police refused to name the accused.
Auda Viegas, who heads a local women right's group Bailancho Ekvott, said the incident only highlights the fact that beaches in Goa are not safe for women.
"It is shameful. What kind of a tourist state is this? Women are not safe in Goa. There should be more vigilance on these beach stretches during late hours," Viegas told reporters here.
Published 16 March 2011, 07:15 IST