Class 9 girl raped by 26-year-old Instagram friend in Surat

SURAT: A 12-year-old class IX student was allegedly raped by a 26-year-old man with whom she had become friends through social media. Though the crime was committed on May 23, the police complaint was filed on May 29.
According to police, the rape survivor is the daughter of a garment businessman who lives with his wife and three children in Sarthana area. The survivor is studying in class IX at a local school. Every day, her father goes to his shop around 9am and returns home around 9pm.
On Monday (May 23), however, her father came home around 6pm. When he enquired about his daughter, his wife told him that she had gone to meet her school friend. When the girl returned home around 9.30pm, her father asked her where she had gone.
The girl told him that she had gone to meet her school friend. But her father doubted her answer after noticing her her body language and a sign of fear on her face. He took her to her friend’s house where she claimed she was, but her friend said that she (the girl) not was with her.
On further quizzing by her father, the girl revealed what had really happened. Around two months back, she had met Jignesh Vekariya (26) on Instagram. Vekariya lives in Kathodara and runs an online sari business. After chatting for a few days, they started meeting at different places.
On Monday, around 5pm, as desired by Vekariya, the girl reached Sardar Park in Sarthana, from where Vekariya picked her up on his bike. He took her to his friend’s shop in a complex in Puna to spend some time with her.
After reaching the shop, Vekariya told her to get physical with him but the girl refused. At this point, Vekariya threatened to kill her by strangulating her and then raped her.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)