Instagram romance: Woman abducts minor, couple caught at Surat railway station

A 21-year-old woman from Madhya Pradesh was detained by police in Surat after allegedly abducting a 17-year-old boy from Gujarat whom she had met on Instagram, officials said.

The woman, identified as Mona (name changed), and the minor, Raj (name changed) from Virpur in Rajkot district, had been in contact on social media for about a year and a half before their friendship turned into a romantic relationship, police said.

According to investigators, the two regularly spoke online and shared personal details about their lives. Over time, their friendship deepened into a relationship, and they reportedly promised to stay together.

Police said trouble began when Mona’s family learned about the relationship and arranged her marriage elsewhere. In response, she allegedly decided to run away and marry the minor.

On March 6, she left her home without informing her family and travelled to Mumbai. From there, she returned to Surat along with the minor, police said.

Meanwhile, Raj’s family reported him missing, prompting police in Rajkot to register a kidnapping case and begin an investigation.

The breakthrough came when the Surat Railway Police’s SHE team was patrolling Platform No. 1 at Surat railway station. Officers noticed a young woman and a teenage boy sitting nervously in the general waiting room.

Their behaviour raised suspicion, prompting officers to question them. During the inquiry, police learned that Raj’s family had already filed a kidnapping complaint after he went missing.

Surat Railway Police immediately contacted Rajkot Police to confirm the details. Late on the night of March 9, a team from Rajkot arrived in Surat.

After completing the required legal formalities, the Surat Railway Police handed over both the woman and the minor to Rajkot Police for further investigation.

Officials said the swift action helped reunite the minor with his family and highlighted the role of the railway police’s vigilance teams in preventing potential crimes involving minors.

- Ends

Tune In