10-year-old girl runs away with 16-year-old boy she met on Instagram

A 10-year-old girl from Dhansura village in Gujarat eloped with a 16-year-old boy she met on Instagram, leading to an extensive police investigation. The girl, a Class 5 student, was reported missing on December 31 by her family, who initially feared she had been kidnapped. The family filed a police complaint, prompting authorities to search for the missing child.

Following the complaint, the investigation revealed that the girl had been in contact with the boy through Instagram, using her mother’s phone to communicate. The two had developed a relationship over a period of time before they planned their escape. On the day she went missing, the girl, with the help of three friends, arranged to meet the boy and run away together.

The boy, who lived in a nearby village, and the girl had been communicating regularly over the phone and social media. After the report was filed, the police tracked down the pair to a village nearby, where they were found a few hours later. The authorities confirmed that the two minors had planned the elopement together, with the boy and his friends aiding in the escape.

The girl was safely returned to her family, while both the girl and the boy were placed in a juvenile home. A case has been registered based on the complaint from the girl’s family. The police have confirmed that they are continuing to investigate the situation, including how the girl accessed Instagram and communicated with the boy without her parents’ knowledge.

This incident follows a similar case in Madhya Pradesh, where a 15-year-old girl eloped with a 27-year-old man she met on a social media platform. Both cases underline concerns regarding minors’ use of social media, particularly when they are able to form relationships online without parental oversight or awareness. The investigation into the Gujarat case is ongoing.