NAGPUR, Maharashtra — A 19-year-old youth from Thane has been arrested and lodged in Nagpur jail after city police said he kept a 16-year-old girl under what investigators described as a “digital arrest” for almost three months, then allegedly abducted, repeatedly raped and inflicted multiple stab wounds on her.
Rescue from Dighori flat
Police said the girl was rescued from a rented flat in Dighori on August 3 after her parents filed a missing-person complaint. Investigators said the accused had controlled her movements and actions through persistent mobile-phone contact, threats and constant video calls, leaving the minor fearful of social-media exposure.
According to the police account, the accused first made contact with the girl on Instagram and over time coerced her into following instructions issued remotely. In one incident cited by police, he allegedly ordered her to go to the terrace and start a live video call; at another point he directed her to sleep under her bed. When she resisted, the complainant said she was threatened with circulation of objectionable photographs online.
Allegations of repeated assault and injuries
After the rescue, police said the girl disclosed that she had been held hostage in the flat, repeatedly raped and whipped with a leather belt. Authorities reported the victim had suffered about 20 knife wounds. The accused, currently in custody in Nagpur, faces charges that include sexual assault and attempted homicide, as police proceed with legal formalities and forensic examinations.
“The neck strap and belt were designed to keep dogs on a leash. We question the shop owners and staff,” a police officer said, referring to items traced by investigators to two pet shops in Nagpur.
Evidence tracing and investigation
Investigators said they traced a strap and a belt allegedly used in the assaults to two pet shops in Nagpur. The police officer quoted in reports said shop owners and staff were being questioned as part of the probe. Forensic teams are expected to examine physical evidence recovered from the flat and the accused’s possessions.
- Alleged perpetrator: 19-year-old youth from Thane, now in Nagpur jail.
- Victim: 16-year-old girl rescued from a rented flat in Dighori on August 3.
- Allegations: prolonged digital coercion, abduction, repeated rape, whipping with a belt, and approximately 20 knife wounds.
- Investigative leads: items traced to two Nagpur pet shops; social-media contact via Instagram.
Local context and concerns
The case has raised immediate concerns among Nagpur residents over the safety of minors on social platforms and the capacity of criminal networks to exercise remote control over victims. Digital coercion — using mobile phones and social-media threats to force compliance — now features prominently in the police narrative, signalling new challenges for investigators and parents alike.
Local child-protection and cyber-safety advocates emphasise that adolescent users are particularly vulnerable to grooming tactics that escalate from online persuasion to physical control. Police officials said they would pursue the full scope of the accused’s contacts and activities to determine whether others were involved or whether similar incidents have occurred.
| Detail | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Rescue date | August 3 |
| Location | Dighori, Nagpur |
| Alleged injuries | Whipping with belt; ~20 knife wounds |
| Mode of contact | Instagram; persistent video calls and threats |
Police have not released the names of the juvenile victim or detailed forensic findings, citing the sensitivity of the case and legal protections for minors. Proceedings will be conducted under applicable provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
City residents and parents in Nagpur are likely to seek reassurance from police on preventive measures and guidance on online safety. Authorities have not yet announced any public outreach or counselling services tied specifically to this case, but investigators said they will continue questioning witnesses and following forensic leads.
The case remains under active investigation by Nagpur police; charges and further details will depend on the evidence gathered and statements recorded during the ongoing probe, officials said.
