Sullia :  A Gram Panchayat election candidate have been arrested on the charges of raping a minor girl by Bellare police.

The arrested man is Hukrappa alias Narayana Punchama who was a candidate contesting from Kalmadka which went to polls on Sunday itself.

It is learnt the victim girl also happens to be a close relative of the accused. The girl’s family had lodged a complaint following which the accused was arrested.