The rape accused lived in the neighbourhood of the children in Hyderabad.
Two young girls, one eight and another 10, have been rescued by the police from a home in a middle class colony of Hyderabad. Police say the two children were being subjected to sexual abuse for the past one year at least and that the couple, believed to be their parents, were in the know about it.
A disturbing and sordid story of child abuse, apparently perpetrated with the knowledge of the family, became known to the outside world after one of the girls had complained to a teacher in a private school about stomach ache. The teacher suspected something was wrong and alerted a child rights organisation.
Police have taken the parents into custody for interrogation. The couple, originally from Uttar Pradesh, have been living in Hyderabad for the last 16 years. They also have a 14-year-old son, who may also have been involved in sexual activity beyond his age, suspect the police.
A man called Jaffar, father of three children, has been arrested in the case. Jaffar reportedly developed friendly relations with the mother and subsequently started abusing the children as well. Jaffar's minor son has also been named in the case.
The police is also getting mobile phone records analysed to know who else may be linked to what is suspected to be a child sex racket.
The mother reportedly works for a private firm in Mehdipatnam and police suspect she may have used her daughters as commercial sex workers.
"We have registered cases of rape, intimidation, and also under POCSO, the law for preventing sexual crimes against children. We could add more sections of law as more is unravelled in the investigation,'' said Shamshabad DCP Padmaja to NDTV.
Child protection officials have now moved both the girls to a rescue home. They would need counselling and rehabilitation for the physical, sexual and psychological trauma they have undergone. The girls reportedly told the police they had been abused by their father, other uncles, brother as well as his friend. The girls have been sent for medical examination.