(The victims' identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

BANDA: Two minor girls were allegedly raped by their cousin at a village in neighbouring Chitrakoot district , police said on Thursday.The girls, aged seven and eight, were playing outside their house on Wednesday afternoon when Balveer Singh (32) allegedly took them to a secluded spot and raped them in a village under the Rajapur police station, SHO Gulab Chandra Tripathi said.On hearing cries of the girls, locals rushed to the spot but by then the accused had escaped, the SHO said, adding that a case has been registered on the complaint of the victims' family.Raids are being conducted to nab the accused and the girls have been sent for a medical examination, the SHO added.