A 15-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three teenagers on Sunday near a popular tourist spot in Gujarat, India. Police have detained three boys in connection with the incident.
Incident near Sai Baba Temple
According to local media reports, one of the boys had been chatting with the girl on social media and asked to meet her on Sunday evening near the Sai Baba Temple in Valsad district's Tithal area. The boy allegedly raped her first, followed by his friend who was also at the location. The two then called a third boy to the spot, who also allegedly raped her.
Police investigation and detentions
Police said the girl was dropped off in the middle of nowhere and was found at around 1am on Monday. After she went missing, her family began searching for her. After she was found, she reportedly told her family what had happened.
As reported by The Times of India, a police officer said: "We got a medical examination of the girl done and rape has been confirmed. A detailed report is awaiting."
Valsad City Police in Gujarat detained three teenage boys aged 15, 16, and 17 in connection with the alleged gang rape.
Location background
Tithal is a popular seaside destination located about 2.5 miles west of Valsad town. The main Tithal Beach is famous for its unique brownish-black sand and scenic sunset views over the Arabian Sea. Prominent places of worship near the shore include the Shri Swaminarayan Temple and the Shri Sai Baba Temple.
Gujarat recorded approximately 2.27 million foreign tourist visits in 2024, ranking third among Indian states for international arrivals according to the India Tourism Data Compendium.
