A nine-year-old girl was sexually assaulted allegedly by a 50-year-old man in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur. The incident has sparked violent protests in the area. Locals who blocked a highway till early this morning have set a deadline till 3 pm for the arrest of the accused, who is missing.

The child complained of bleeding and pain in the stomach on Wednesday afternoon, after which her parents took her to hospital. Doctors confirmed that the girl had multiple injuries on her body and had been sexually assaulted. The child, on being asked by her parents, revealed that she was raped by a neighbour, a rickshaw-puller.

The injuries were so bad that the girl had to be operated upon, a doctor said. The child is being treated at a government hospital in Guntur.

Guntur Superintendent of Police, Appala Naidu told the media that a search is on and the accused will be arrested soon.

Angry protesters in large numbers have come out on the road demanding justice for the girl. Additional forces have been stationed in Dachepalli town after house of the accused was attacked by the mob.

A group also caught hold of the accused man's son and beat him until police rescued him late last night.

For nearly six hours yesterday, protesters blocked the highway in the area, burnt tyres and raised slogans.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to ensure that the accused is arrested at the earliest.