Surat: A 13-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by four persons, including a minor, in the Umarpada police station area of Surat district in the early hours of Sunday. The police have arrested all four accused and initiated a level investigation into the matter. The incident occurred approximately 15 km from the Umarpada police station when the victim was returning home after attending a wedding ceremony in her village.According to police sources, the victim had gone to the wedding with her family members on Saturday night. While a DJ party was underway, the girl went for a brief outing on a motorcycle with a 17-year-old friend. After some time, her friend dropped her near the village and left. As she was walking home alone around 2am on Sunday, she was intercepted by the four accused, two of whom belonged to her village while the other two were from a neighbouring village. One of the men reportedly objected to her friendship with the minor and threatened to inform her parents, leading to a heated argument.Sensing danger, the victim attempted to flee and hid in a farm nearly a kilometer away from her residence. The accused pursued her, using mobile phone torches to search the fields. When they could not initially find her, they switched off their lights and waited in silence. Believing that the men had left, the victim came out of hiding, at which point the accused caught her and took turns raping her before fleeing the scene. The traumatized girl reached home at 4am and narrated the ordeal to her mother.Surat (rural) superintendent of police Rajesh Gadhiya visited the spot after the complaint was filed. Deputy superintendent of police B K Vanar told TOI that a complaint was filed immediately after the police were informed on Sunday morning. Vanar said, “All four accused, three of whom are aged between 20 and 24 and one who was a minor, have been detained. The accused and the girl have been sent for medical tests, collection of forensic evidence.” They were further investigating the case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Pocso Act, he added
