In another disturbing case of rape that involved making friends online, a 12-year-old girl fell victim to the heinous crime committed by a man she had met on Instagram. Apparently, the two had been talking online for over two months, when the girl was lured into meeting the man on May 23. The 26-year-old man then assaulted and raped the girl. When the returned home, she was fearful and shaking, so upon inquiring the truth was revealed to the parents
The girl lives with her parents and siblings in Sarthana village, Kamrej Taluka, of Surat district and studies in class IX at a local school. The girl left home on May 23 saying that she was going to meet a school friend, but returned home late at night with a suspicious demeanour. The worried parents asked her where she had gone and what had happened and also involved her school friend.
Finally, the girl told the truth and revealed how she had met Jignesh Vekariya on Instagram and had gone to meet him. Vekariya, who runs an online business, had picked up the girl and taken her to her shop. When the girl rejected his advances, he threatened to strangle her to death and raped her.
For reasons unknown, the girl’s parents filed a complaint against Vekariya only on May 29, although the incident had happened on May 23.
