7-year-old kidnapped on her way to school, found later

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 4

Almost seven hours after a 7-year-old girl on her way to school was kidnapped in broad day light from near Polo Ground in Patiala by unidentified persons at around 7.40 am here on Wednesday, the police found the girl from near Sular. Her kidnappers fled the spot.

"The girl is safe and sound and we are trying to arrest the accused,” said Police. 

Minutes after the news of the kidnapping spread, parents of other students of the school, The British Co Ed School, came rushing to get more information.

The child was the resident of Gur Mandi near Quila Chowk and was on her way to school in a rickshaw when some kidnappers lured her by offering her a chocolate and then dumped her into the waiting car.

The rickshaw driver tried to intervene but was pushed away by the kidnappers, one of who had a deep cut on his nose. Police sources claimed the gang had demanded a ransom of more than Rs 50 lakh.

The child’s father is a wealthy businessman.