A 15-year-old girl was reportedly gang-raped by three teenagers on Sunday (August 23) near a well-known tourist location in India. The victim had been communicating with one of the boys via social media, who requested to meet her that Sunday evening.
As per local news outlets, the meeting was arranged near the Sai Baba Temple in Tithal, located in Gujarat's Valsad district.
Alleged assault and abandonment
The boy she had been interacting with online allegedly assaulted her first, followed by his friend who was also present at the scene. Subsequently, they summoned a third boy to the location, who is also accused of raping her.
According to the police, the girl was then allegedly abandoned in an isolated area and was discovered around 1am on Monday (August 24).
The authorities further stated that her family initiated a search when she went missing. Upon being found, she reportedly disclosed the horrific ordeal to her relatives, reports the Express.
Arrests and medical confirmation
As cited by The Times of India, a police officer confirmed: "We got a medical examination of the girl done and rape has been confirmed. A detailed report is awaiting."
Three teenage boys aged 15, 16, and 17 have been apprehended by the Valsad City Police in Gujarat in relation to the alleged gang rape.
Location and tourism context
Tithal, situated approximately 2.5 miles west of Valsad town, is a favoured seaside spot renowned for its distinctive brownish-black sand and picturesque sunset vistas over the Arabian Sea.
Notable religious sites in the vicinity include the Shri Swaminarayan Temple and the Shri Sai Baba Temple.
In 2024, Gujarat welcomed around 2.27 million overseas tourists, securing the third spot among Indian states for international arrivals, as per the India Tourism Data Compendium.
