Nalgonda district police arrested Harish Nayak and hostel warden N Srinivas and booked them for rape. They were also booked for cheating and other offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The 22-year-old tutor allegedly violated the tribal girls, all below 13, in the last five months at a hostel run by an NGO.

The hostel is located in Enemeedla tribal hamlet in Nalgonda district, about 150 km from Hyderabad. The hostel houses 44 girls and the NGO running the facility had roped in Nayak for teaching the girls.

"The tutor used to stay in the hostel and lure the girls with chocolates. He resorted to sexual harassment and sexual assault," T Prabhakar Rao, Nalgonda Superintendent of Police said.

Police have sent the girls to a social welfare hostel run by the government.

Earlier, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy ordered a probe into the incident. He asked the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police to take immediate action against the culprits.

State women's commission chairperson Tripurana Venkataratnam assured that the victims would be given compensation of Rs.50,000 each and the government would also bear expenses for their education.

Groups of students, women and tribals took to streets in Nalgonda district, demanding punishment to the guilty. The protestors demanded that the accused be hanged to death.

The state human rights commission today asked the social welfare department to take action on the matter and submit a report by March 5. The commission issued the directions on a petition by a rights group.