Class 12 girl allegedly sexually assaulted by Mumbai student met on Instagram

The Story in Brief

A 20-year-old Bachelor of Business Administration student from Mumbai was arrested by Nagpur police after a Class 12 girl he had befriended on Instagram was found tied up and injured in a flat in Dighori. Police say the man, later identified as Nirmay Madhav Pakhare, had created a fake Instagram account using the name Akash Mehra and first contacted the girl in May last year when she was 16. The survivor, the daughter of a revenue officer, had not returned home for nearly 24 hours and her phone was switched off, prompting her parents to approach Hudkeshwar police station.

After analysing the girl’s Instagram chats and digital footprints, investigators traced the accused to his Thane residence and then to the rented Dighori flat. Officers found the girl tied up, an alleged abductor holding a belt, and a knife that had been used to slash her repeatedly. The girl was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Police say the accused had coerced her into a sexual relationship and threatened to release photographs; he has been remanded to two days of police custody while devices and accounts are examined. His parents, both doctors, travelled to Nagpur; they did not respond to requests for comment.

The Indian Opinion

The reporting focuses on serious allegations and on how police used digital traces to find the survivor; these are important facts. Readers should note the article includes family background details and a named fake account, which can shape public perception before investigations conclude. It is reasonable to highlight the use of social media in grooming, but care is needed not to present allegations as proven facts – the accused has been arrested and is in custody while police examine devices and enquiries continue. Coverage that emphasises gruesome elements or prominent family ties can be sensational; an ordinary reader would expect sober reporting that protects the survivor’s privacy and follows developments as evidence is verified.

Original article: Class 12 girl sexually assaulted by Mumbai student she befriended on Instagram (www.hindustantimes.com)

This story was summarised and commented on by AI from the source linked above.