Five-year-old physically challenged girl raped in Raipur

, Nov 21: A five-year-old physically challenged

was allegedly

by a 24-year-old man in Beldara Seoni village in

's Raipur district, police said on Friday.

"The accused Sanjay Verma was arrested immediately after the crime, which occurred last evening at the village, located around 40 kms away from the state capital," Additional Superintendent of Police, Raipur Rural, G S Jaiswal said.

The girl's screams drew the attention of neighbours who rescued her.

According to the officer, the mother of the child had died during her birth and since then she has been staying with her grandparents in the village.

Police said the accused, who resides in the same area of the victim, entered the house while her grandparents were away for work, and allegedly sexually assaulted her.

The girl's screams drew the attention of neighbours who rushed to the spot and rescued her, Jaiswal said, adding that she was admitted to Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial hospital where her condition is said to be normal.

The accused has been booked under sections 376 of IPC for rape and under various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, police said.

PTI