Shillong, April 19: A 7-year-old girl was raped by her grandfather in Meghalaya's North Garo Hills district. The accused sexually molested her thrice over the past few days, before being arrested on Thursday.

The case was reported from a remote village Kama Gandim, where a 60-year-old man, identified as Deny Marak raped his minor granddaughter and threatened her to maintain silence. The victim, however, revealed it to her mother on Wednesday.

North Garo Hills police said the accused has been booked under the stringent provisions of Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

North Garo Hills superintendent of police Dalton P Marak said the investigation is underway, the the probing officials awaiting the medical report of the girl.

Bakdil, a non-governmental organisation based in North Garo Hills, undertook a silent protest march in Tura against the crime committed against the minor. The rally was organised in Tura town to sensitise the local populace against sexual offences being committed against children.

The incident comes in the backdrop of a nationwide rage over the gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old in Jammu's Kathua. The case drew unprecedented flak as two BJP Ministers in the J&K government attended a rally held in solidarity with the accused.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 19, 2018 10:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).