Surat: A 15-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped on Sunday evening near the Sai Baba Temple at Tithal beach, a tourist spot near Valsad that draws thousands on weekends.Police said three boys — aged 15, 16 and 17 — have been detained in connection with the crime after the girl’s mother filed a complaint under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.According to preliminary inquiries, one of the boys had been in contact with the girl through Instagram for two years. They began chatting online and later started speaking frequently. Police said the girl went to Tithal on Sunday evening to meet the boy. Police said another boy, the first accused’s friend, was also at the location.Police said the girl was first raped first by the boy she had met online and then by his friend. The two then called the third boy to the spot and he also allegedly raped her. After the crime, the accused dropped the girl off in the middle of nowhere and left, police said.She did not return home until late at night, after which her family began a search. She was found around 1 am on Monday, hiding at a secluded spot near Tithal Road. She told her family what had happened, a police officer said.“We got a medical examination of the girl done and rape has been confirmed. A detailed report is awaited,” a police officer said.
