NEW DELHI: Indian police said on Tuesday that 17 men have been arrested for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl over several weeks, in the country’s latest horrific sexual assault case.

The girl, who has a hearing disability, was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a largely unoccupied apartment block in the southern city of Chennai.

Among those arrested were the 300-flat building’s security guards, plumber and elevator operator, state police said.

The 66-year-old lift operator was the first to attack the girl after she returned from school and was cycling arou­­nd the complex, police said.

He allegedly invited other men who filmed each other raping the child. As the or­­d­eal progressed she was sed­a­ted with injections and drug-laced soft drinks, reports said.

“This is the initial stage of investigation and we have to go in-depth to ascertain the details,” a local police offic­i­­al said. According to local re­­p­o­rts, the accused took the girl to various places in the complex including the basement, terrace, gym and public rest­rooms to rape her.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018