AP: 8-year-old raped by youth in West Godavari

ELURU: An eight-year-old girl was raped allegedly by an 18-year-old youth at Kodigudem village in West Godavari district on Friday. The incident, however, came to light on Saturday after the parents of the girl lodged a complaint with the police.
Dwaraka Tirumala police sub-inspector Surya Bhagwan said the accused, K Easwara Balaji, is a distant relative of the victim. The girl is studying in a local school. Her parents, who are daily labourers, left her at the school and went for work on Friday.
The girl was playing during the lunch hour when the accused took her aside and raped her. Police said he gave the girl his cell phone and told her to hold it. After some time, he asked her to come to a cashew plantation nearby. The girl refused, but the accused forcibly took her into the cashew orchards where he alleged committed the sexual assault.
The family members, who were searching for the girl, found her with the accused. On seeing the family members, Balaji fled from the spot. Later, the girl narrated her ordeal to her aunt. She told her that the accused had assaulted her a few days ago and warned her not to disclose it to her parents.
The girl’s parents lodged a complaint with Dwaraka Tirumala police. She was sent for medical examination. A case of rape was registered against the accused under Pocso Act. The accused is still at large.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)