A nine-year-old girl from Coimbatore was sexually assaulted for over a year by her 60-year-old relative, a cousin and two neighbours, all minors, for over a year, according to the All Women Police Station (AWPS), East.
The four persons, including three 15-year-old boys, were arrested late on Friday.
The crime came to light when teachers of the class IV student found her depressed.
They contacted the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), which sent one of its women officers to the school to offer her counselling. The officer spoke to the student on Wednesday and the child revealed that she was being abused sexually.
“According to the survivor, she was sexually assaulted by her 60-year-old relative (her grandfather’s brother), her minor cousin and two minor boys from the neighbourhood.
The assault took place when her parents, construction workers, were away.
The girl used to be alone in the house with her six-year-old sister,” said an official.
A case was registered against the four accused under variou sections of the POCSO Act.
