Jan 29: A four-year-old girl, resident of Nemnagar in Pandesara was sexually abused by one Sitaram Rajbhar in his house in Ganeshnagar area of Pandesara. Sitaram escaped after the girl shouted for help. She later returned home and informed her parents, who lodged a complaint with the Pandesara police.

Jan 26: A 14-year-old girl of Panas village in Umra was sexually abused by a youth of the same village. The accused fled from the spot after the girl shouted for help. She later lodged a complaint against the accused.

Jan 20: The public relation officer of Frankfinn Air hostess training institute and her students were eve teased by a group of boys in Athwalines area. The boys used filthy language and even tried to molest some of the girls.

Jan 19: A seven-year-old girl, a resident of Puna village was raped by a youth at a lonely spot. The girl's father had lodged a complaint with the Kapodara Police, but the accused is yet to be arrested.

Jan 17: Keshavprasad Vishwakarma (26), of Ganeshnagar in Pandesara was burnt alive by three youth when he tried to stop them from sexually abusing a women residing in same area. Keshavprasad succumbed to his injuries, three days later in the New Civil Hospital.

Jan 16: Alpa Soni, (18), a resident of Gajera circle in Katargam, attempted suicide by dousing herself with kerosene before setting herself ablaze in the house. Alpa was being subjected to mental and physical harassment by a youth residing near her house. Alpa was rushed to SMIMER Hospital for treatment.

Jan 13: A three-year old girl, resident of Nanpura pumping station was sexually abused by one Tushar Dave (24) at his house. The girl shouted loudly and was rescued by neighbours, who later handed over the youth to the police.

Girls in the city are very unsafe despite the state government's many initiatives to educate them.

Athwalines resident Bharti Desai (17) said, "Whenever we go to school we are subjected to harassment from the youth standing on the street corners. Even in school, there are some youths who tease the girls both within the school premises and outside. We don't get into any sort of conflict with them as they have a criminal mindset and wouldn't hesitate to harm either us or our families.”

K M Joseph, a woman police sub-inspector with Surat Police said, " during my service period, I have come across many cases of sexual harassment and rapes of minors and teenage girls in the city. On an average, only three out of 10 cases get registered, while in most of the cases the parents try to hush up the matter."

According to Joseph, in most of the cases, the accused are known to the victims, they are either relatives or neighbours. She advised parents to take care of children even when they were playing outside or going to school. She also advised parents to ask school drivers not to allow girls to go with any unknown person after school hours