New Delhi, April 27 (IANS): A six-year-old girl was found unconscious with critical injuries near a public toilet here Friday and underwent a three-hour-long surgery to save her life. She remains critical in the ICU, doctors said.

Police are suspecting the six-year-old found in badarpur area of south Delhi was raped too.

"The six-year-old is serious but stable in the ICU of the trauma centre. Doctors had to perform a life-saving surgery that lasted nearly three hours," said M.C. Mishra, chief of All India Institute of Medical Sciences' (AIIMS) trauma centre.

"There is severe damage to the anal canal and the doctors had to perform a colostomy to create space for passing stools, apart from dressing to contain infection and clean dead tissues," he added.

The girl also had a sharp cut on her neck that doctors stitched, he said further.

A passer-by spotted the girl lying unconscious and informed police, who took her to the hospital.

According to the victim's uncle, the girl - a resident of Badarpur - had gone to relieve herself when she was assaulted.

"A deep injury by a sharp edged weapon was found on her neck. She was naked," the victim's 30-year-old uncle said.

Police said 22 people have been rounded up for questioning and the public toilet's contractor has been detained.

The victim's father is a balloon-seller.