Reports of a sexual assault on a young girl at a government run school in New Delhi triggered violent protests by an irate mob in the Indian capital on Friday (March 1).

Outraged locals vandalised a bus of Delhi Transport Corporation in the neighbourhood of Mangolpuri after medical reports on the reportedly seven-year-old victim confirmed rape.

According to various media reports, the incident occurred at a school managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi when the victim had gone to have her midday meal on Thursday (February 28).

The incident comes at a time when the issues of women’s security and rape laws are at the the heart of debates in the Indian parliament following a recent surge in brutal sexual assaults in the country including that of a 23-year old physiotherapist, who was gang raped aboard a moving bus.

Enraged at the continuing spate of gender based crimes, Chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW), Mamata Sharma condemned the incident while demanding stringent laws for the crimes committed against women.

“Until stringent punishment is announced such incidents will not stop, neither will there be a change in the mentality of society. With this latest rape of a minor, I feel strict action should be taken against teachers. Though this case comes under the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) but in the next two to three days I will have an inquiry team appointed,” said Sharma.

Police teams were rushed to the site of the violence soon after the rampage. Police personnel armed with batons and helmets took charge of the area in a bid to thwart any further untoward incident.

Reportedly, three people have been taken into the police custody for interrogation in the case.