13-Yr-Old Girl Allegedly Abducted, Raped By Online Friend In Mumbai

Social media platforms have become integral part of people's lives. While it allows you to connect with family and friends, it has its own perils and is often used for malicious purposes.

Despite being designed for different purposes, the vast majority of social media sites have been used in attempts to sexually exploit children. Social networking sites are often used by perpetrators as an easy way to access children and young people for sexual abuse.

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In another instance of online platform being used to commit a heinous crime, a teenage girl was allegedly abducted and raped by her social media friend and his allies in Mumbai's Agripada.

According to PTI, police on Monday arrested the 22-year-old main accused and four of his aides in separate raids at Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and rescued the victim.

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The victim went missing from her home on July 1, following which her mother lodged a complaint, PTI reported an official saying.

Investigations revealed that the minor was in touch with the main accused on Facebook and police teams were dispatched to Jhalwad in Rajasthan and Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh to track them down, the official added.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided both the places and arrested five persons and rescued the victim, he said.

On interrogation, the main accused revealed that he had taken the help of his aides to kidnap the victim and take her to Rajasthan amid the COVID-19 lockdown, it was reported.

Agencies

Incidentally, the vehicle used by the accused was not intercepted anywhere along the way despite the lockdown norms, he added.

The main accused had also allegedly raped the victim, the official said.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and further probe was underway.