Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said he was “deeply disturbed” over the rape and brutality committed on a five-year-old girl and asked the society to work to root out the evil.

He also expressed anger over the treatment meted out by police officers to some women protesting against the incident, saying it was “completely unacceptable” and asked Delhi Lt Governor Tajender Khanna to take strictest possible action against the erring officials.

“The Prime Minister has been deeply disturbed to hear news of the shameful incident in which a 5-year-old child in Delhi was sexually abused and is now fighting for her life in hospital,” a PMO statement said.

He directed the Lt Governor to ensure that appropriate medical care is provided to the victim of the sexual assault.

“The Prime Minister has once again reiterated the need for society to look deep within and work to root out the evil of rape and other such crimes from our midst,” it said.

The statement said Singh saw news visuals of the “completely unacceptable” treatment meted out by police officers to some women protesting against this incident.

“He has spoken to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in this regard and has conveyed to him the need for the strictest possible action to be taken against the erring officials,” it said.

Rape accused identified: Police

Police on Friday night said they have identified the person allegedly involved in the rape of a five-year-old girl in east Delhi.

“The accused has been identified and a team is already on its way to arrest him,” Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar said.

The girl was rescued from the room on the ground floor of the building where the victim and her family stayed.