A woman has been arrested in India over claims that she raped her nine-year-old nephew.

The 36-year-old was arrested by police in Kerala, southern India, after the child told a local doctor he had been abused.

Officers later revealed that the suspect was the wife of the boy's uncle and that there had been a 'dispute' between the family of the youngster and the accused.

A woman has been arrested in India over claims that she raped her nine-year-old nephew (file picture)

A doctor raised the alarm and told Childline, which said it had recorded the boy's statement.

The NGO said he had been subjected to sexual abuse for more than a year and that his mental health had been affected, The Times of India reports.

But police said they had yet to speak to the accused.

Thenhippalam sub-inspector Binu Thomas said: 'We have learnt that there was a dispute between the family of the survivor and accused.

'We have to check whether the allegation is linked to the dispute. Police will record the statement of accused in the coming days'.