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HYDERABAD: An 85-year-old ex-railway employee was arrested from Kushaiguda on Wednesday for allegedly raping a 12-year-old dalit schoolgirl after luring her with chocolates. The accused Satyanarayana is a serial offender, and had earlier raped three other minor students from the same school and sexually assaulted an equal number over the last 12 months, police said.

Satyanarayana's misdeeds came to light when 'SHE Teams' sleuths of Rachakonda police commissionerate went to various schools and colleges to spread awareness about sexual abuse and reporting such cases to police.

"The family of the victim - a class 7 student - brought her ordeal to the notice of the cops. During inquiry, it was found that the culprit had also sexually abused six other girls, including raping three,'' Kushaiguda inspector K Chandrasekhar said. Most of the victims were aged 12 years or less.

Accused lured girls with chocolates

The accused used to strike a conversation with schoolgirls visiting a shop near their school, before luring them with chocolates and gaining their confidence. Subsequently, on some pretext or the other, he would take the victim to his residence and violate them.

Though his exploits had been going on for several months, no one lodged a police complaint and this was the first time a case was registered. Satyanarayana’s wife had died several years ago and he has children, including one working abroad.

A case was filed against the octogenarian for rape, and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

