The Sethiathoppu All Women Police on Saturday arrested five persons, including a sexagenarian, on charges of raping a mentally challenged 19-year-old girl.
The girl is four months pregnant and has been admitted to the Cuddalore Government General Hospital for medical examination.
The police gave the name of the accused as K. Balu, 53, R. Vinayagam, 55, R. Ramalingam, 60, M. Velmurugan, 25, and V. Veerasamy, 36, all hailing from Kadambur village.
Police said the victim, the last of the three daughters of a daily wage labourer, was staying with her father in their house.
The victim’s two elder sisters were married while her mother had passed away a few years ago.
The crime came to light on Friday after the victim’s elder sister took her to a hospital after she complained of pain in the abdomen. Doctors confirmed that she was four months pregnant.
Police said the girl used to stay alone at home after her father went out for work.
The victim used to roam around the locality and was lured by the accused and raped repeatedly over the last six months.
The girl narrated her ordeal to her family who lodged a complaint with the Sethiathoppu police.
A case has been registered under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 376 (punishment for rape) and 506 part II of the IPC.
