The girl had sustained severe head injury and is undergoing psychiatric as well as gynaecological treatment at present.

The Surat police are now finding it extremely difficult to get clues from her, as she breaks down every time she starts talking.

Inspector A B Jhala of Punagam police said: “She is changing her statements regularly. Now, she says there were six people involved. We are awaiting the medical report a confirmation of rape.

Jhala added: “We suspect the case will take a different turn in the coming days. When we try to record her statement, she starts crying, making it all the more difficult for us.”

The girl belongs to Lokhi Narayanpur village in 24 Parganas, West Bengal.

On December 25, she was found in an unconscious state on the roadside near a canal at Ishwarnagar in the Punagam area of Surat.

She was brought to the New Civil Hospital for treatment.

She regained consciousness on Wednesday, after which the police recorded her statement and registered a complaint against the three unknown youths.

But on Friday, she changed her statement and said there were six persons and five other girls in the car where the three accused raped her.

Doctors said the girl has sustained severe head injuries and some injuries are also visible on her ear and face— a clear indication that she was beaten up.

The girl also said that the other girls were confined in the car for several days and were fed only tea and biscuits.

The girl had provided the phone number of a neighbour in her village to the police, which could not be reached despite repeated attempts.

She also mentioned a diary containing contact numbers of her relatives but alleged that her violators had destroyed it.