An 18-month-old girl was recovering from surgery in hospital yesterday after she was allegedly raped by a 13-year-old boy in Pudong.

The boy, who can't be named, is in police custody. But authorities wouldn't say how they plan to proceed with the case. Under Chinese law, people under the age of 14 are exempt from any criminal punishment.

The girl, who police identified by the pseudonym Xiao Yun, underwent surgery for genital injuries on Monday at Shanghai Children's Medical Center. Doctors said her injuries were serious, but said they won't affect her future life as she is expected to fully recover.

"Due to her young age, the girl will not have any psychological problems when she grows up as long as there is no exterior provocation," said surgeon Chen Qimin.

The incident occurred in Tongji Village in Sanlin Town.

The boy is a Shanghai native while Xiao Yun and her parents moved to the city from Anhui Province in October, 2004.

Xiao Yun disappeared at about 3PM on Monday after playing outside her building.

"We searched everywhere nearby but couldn't find her. Then someone told us a child was heard crying in the boy's home," said her grandfather. "So we went over to his residence and started knocking at the door."

The boy allegedly opened the door about a minute later and the adults immediately rushed in and discovered the baby lying on the ground. Her midsection was covered in blood.

"He claimed he did not do anything and explained that the baby had a fall," said the grandfather.

Police were soon called in and took the boy to a nearby police station for questioning.

The boy's father told reporters he and his wife are both illiterate and their son has dropped out of school. "He did commit some minor thefts before, but how could we expect that he would do this," said the father, a street cleaner.

(Shanghai Daily November 2, 2005)