A shocking case of sexual assault has emerged from Lucknow, where a Class 7 student was allegedly gang-raped after being lured by a man she befriended on Instagram. The police said the 13-year-old was confined in a hotel room for two days and assaulted by multiple men. The survivor’s mother lodged a complaint at the Sarojini Nagar police station after the girl returned home in a distressed state. Two accused have been arrested, while the main suspect remains absconding.

According to the complaint, the minor became acquainted with a man named Vimal Yadav through Instagram. After several exchanges over calls and chats, Vimal allegedly persuaded her to meet in person on November 2. When she arrived at the meeting point, she found Vimal accompanied by two others identified as Piyush Mishra and Shubham Shukla. The trio invited her for a “joyride” in a Scorpio SUV, but instead, they took her to a hotel on IIM Road.

Once inside the hotel, the accused took away the minor’s phone and kept her locked in a room, where they allegedly raped her repeatedly over two days. The survivor told her mother that the assailants physically assaulted her when she tried to resist and threatened to share videos of the assault if she spoke out. The accused later dropped her near her home and fled the scene.

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The terrified girl broke down after returning home, eventually revealing the ordeal to her mother, who immediately approached the police. “We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Two accused—Piyush and Shubham—are in custody, and efforts are underway to locate the main accused, Vimal Yadav,” the Sarojini Nagar police said in an official statement.

The incident has triggered outrage over the misuse of social media platforms and renewed calls for stricter vigilance to protect minors online. Police officials have urged parents to monitor their children’s digital interactions and report any suspicious behavior immediately. Meanwhile, the survivor is receiving medical care and psychological counseling as the investigation continues.

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