Monkeys 'save six-year-old girl from being raped by sex fiend'

Monkeys have reportedly saved a six-year-old girl from being raped by a sex fiend after he tore her clothes off. 

The man lured the girl to an abandoned house in Baghpat, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, over the weekend, according to several Indian media outlets.

The girl's parents reportedly claim that the man took off the young victim's clothes and tried to rape her, but he was interrupted by several monkeys who caused him to flee.

When the terrified girl returned home, she told her parents that the monkeys 'saved her' from the man, the Times of India reports.

Her father told local media: 'My daughter would have been dead by now if the monkeys had not intervened.'

'My daughter was playing outside when the accused took her away,' the father added. 'He also threatened my child that he would kill me.'

The man was captured on CCTV walking down a narrow lane in the Doula village while holding the the little girl's hand. 

Police said the man, who appeared to be young, is a resident of another village, but have not yet been able to identify him.

A police investigation into the alleged attempted rape has been opened, but a spokesperson for the local police said the man is still on the run.