Police sources said that the accused allegedly raped the girl in her house initially a few months back.

Thiruvananthapuram : A local leader of the CPI was arrested on Wednesday on charges of raping a minor girl at Mammoodu near Venjaramoodu on the rural parts of the district.

Police identified the accused as Hashim, 52. The victim is a 12-year-old girl personally known to him.

Police sources said that the accused allegedly raped the girl in her house initially a few months back. The girl, who was staying in the locality, did not reveal to her parents owing to fear. But he raped her again.

The girl's parents came across certain changes in her behaviour and on further quizzing she revealed the matter. Subsequently the family lodged a complaint with the local police recently and a case was registered.

Since the victim belonged to a dalit family provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also charged against the accused.