Tension prevailed in Hyderabad's old city area on Friday night after the alleged rape of a four-year-old girl at a private school.
The incident took place on Friday when a staff member of the school lured the girl with a chocolate, during the interval. The accused then proceeded to take her to an isolated area and sexually abuse her, the police said.
After she reached home at around 12:30 pm, the girl told her parents that she was experiencing pain in her private parts and then narrated what happened.
Following this, the parents rushed to the school and staged a protest. As news of the incident spread, a large number of people gathered outside the school, shouting slogans of 'We want justice'.
As tension escalated, the Golconda police, which had reached the spot, attempted to pacify the crowd.
According to media reports, some locals pelted stones on the empty buses that were parked in the school's premises, while others vandalised some furniture and other property belonging to the institute.
Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin also visited the school and met the family of the girl.
Speaking to TNM, the legislator said, "I was out campaigning at around 6 pm when I received the news. I rushed to the school and met with the protesting family. They were understandably agitated. I enquired about the girl's health and assured the locals of swift justice."
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar has also taken note of the case. The police have advised people not to reveal details of the school, to protect the victim's identity. The institute has since switched off its contact numbers.
The girl was sent for a medical test at a government-run hospital in the city, where she is also undergoing treatment, personally supervised by the Superintendent of the hospital. An official told TNM that she has undergone surgery and though she is in pain, she is recovering.
The protesting crowd that had gathered at the school, later dispersed, but the police has stepped up security in the area to avoid any untoward incidents. Security has also been beefed up at the hospital where the four-year-old has been admitted.
Meanwhile, the accused has been taken into police custody.
"As soon as we conducted a preliminary investigation, a case was registered under Section 376 (Rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. We have taken the accused into custody. Further details will be revealed later," Golconda SHO Mohd Munawar told TNM.