A 13-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly raped by a 22-year-old man from Tirupur, who she befriended on Facebook, reports the Times of India. The accused, who had promised the girl that he would marry her, abandoned her in a lodge in Puducherry. Following this, the manager of the establishment also allegedly raped her.
According to reports, the class eight student from a private school in Tirupur met the accused, S Ibrahim on Facebook last month. The had chatted frequently and exchanged phone numbers, following which, they talked over the phone.
Ibrahim reportedly told the minor that he was in love with her and even came to her house when her parents were at work. On April 26, he told the girl that he wanted to marry and would take her to Chennai for the same. Persuaded by his promise, the girl went with him.
The duo reportedly arrived in Chennai on the morning of April 27 and travelled to Puducherry. They then stopped at a lodge in Kuilpalayam. The accused then raped the minor girl. She found obscene photographs of several women on his mobile phone. When she questioned him about it, he abused her and left.
Following this, the lodge manager advised the minor to return home. The report says that he raped the 13-year-old as well. He then helped her return home by pledging her gold chain and giving her Rs 5000. The girl then returned to Tirupur where her parents had already registered a missing person complaint.
This incident, came to light months after a similar crime took place in Cuttack, where a minor was raped by a man she met on Facebook. Such incidents continue to occur, despite multiple warning by authorities to not befriend or chat with strangers on social media.