Out For Navratri Celebrations, Teenager Gang-Raped In Gujarat's Surat

A teenager was allegedly raped by three persons when she was out with a friend during the ongoing Navratri festival in Gujarat’s Surat district.

The Navratri celebrations turned nightmare for a 17-year-old girl after she was allegedly raped by three persons in Gujarat's Surat. The teenager was out with a friend during the ongoing Navratri festival, when she was sexually assaulted in a deserted place on the outskirts of Mota Borsara village in Mangrol taluka around 11 pm on Tuesday, according to police. 

“The teen had gone to Kim to meet her friends after attending her coaching class. At around 10.30 pm, she had ice cream with her two friends. She and her (male) friend were then sitting in a deserted place on their way to a petrol pump along the highway near Mota Borsara village when three men approached them,” Superintendent of Police (Rural) Hitesh Joysar said.

The trio grabbed the girl while her friend escaped, the official said, adding that the three men took turns to rape her before fleeing with her and her friend’s mobile phones.

“A motorcycle has been seized and two accused have been identified. Once they are nabbed, we shall be able to get the third accused as well,” he said.

After escaping from the spot, the girl’s friend informed locals about the incident, who reached the area within half an hour and launched a search operation. In the meantime, the police were also alerted. Considering the sensitivity of the case, police have formed more than ten teams for the probe. A dog squad and forensic teams have also been engaged to gather evidence, Joysar said.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered under sections 70-b (gangrape of woman under 18), 115-B (voluntarily causing hurt), 54 (abettor present when offence is committed), and 309-4 (causing hurt in robbery attempt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

The alleged crime comes days after a teenager was gang-raped on the outskirts of Vadodara when she was out with her friend. The minor was raped by three people at a deserted place on the outskirts of Vadodara on October 4 night, triggering a statewide uproar. The three accused were arrested on Monday.