Hyderabad: A watchman cum attender of the Nalanda High School in Vengalrao Nagar in Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar allegedly attempted to rape a Class VI student of the school.

The incident occurred on Saturday night. The victim who stays in the girls’ hostel on the residential school’s premises was returning from her study house when the incident occurred.

Police said the victim who studies at the school stays in the hostel. The hostel and the school are in the same building. During the study hour she went to study and while returning, she was allegedly attacked by the accused, Hara Gopal, 63.

“While she was returning, the accused took her into a room in the building and made sexual advances. The victim escaped from his clutches,” said SI Saidulu.

She didn’t reveal the incident to anyone in the hostel or to the school authorities. On Sunday, the outing day, her father, who is a makeup man, came to the hostel.

The victim then disclosed the heinous act to her father who approached the police on Monday.

Based on a complaint, a case under the Criminal Law Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered and is being investigated by inspector G.V. Ramana Goud.

The accused was arrested and remanded. The victim had lost her mother and is being brought up by her father.

Psychologists say parents need to be cautious with their kids. “Parents must get involved in the activities of their kids. Keep visiting the school, teachers and lower staff too.

This sends a positive sign. They need to keep communication lines open with kids to enable them to speak out.

Parents also need to keep a constant check on people who are with the child at school,” said Dr K. Prashant. consultant clinical psychologist, Yashoda Hospital.

Meanwhile, senior police officials have asked parents to take the issue seriously. “Once such incidents come out the parents must approach the school.

Apart from that when they seek our help we will surely book a case against the culprit,” said ACP Venkateshwarlu.