She had allegedly been abusing the boy for more than a year, damaging the mental health of the victim. She has been slapped with charges under India's Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act. However, police are also investigating if there is any family dispute behind the complaint.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media that, 36-year-old woman was arrested in Kerala, a state in south India, for allegedly raping a nine-year-old boy, The Times of India reported.

Police informed that the incident of sexual abuse was unearthed when the victim narrated his ordeal to a local doctor at a medical clinic. The doctor got in touch with Childcare officials, who then went to the police after recording the boy's statement. The woman has been charged under Sections 5 and 6 of the POCSO Act, the law in India that deals with sexual abuse targeting children.

The boy was sexually assaulted continually for more than a year, said the report, citing authorities.

"We have confirmed that the boy was sexually misused by the woman for several months, and it has affected his mental health. The accused is the boy's uncle's wife and she lives near his house," said Anwar Karakkadan, the local Childline coordinator.

The police are also investigating whether the rape charges have been drummed up due to an inter-family dispute.

"We have learned that there was a dispute between the family of the survivor and the accused. We have to check whether the allegation is linked to the dispute. Police will record the statement of the accused in the coming days," said Binu Thomas, a police officer from the community.