Boy kidnapped, abandoned; motive unclear

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

A 13-year-old boy was kidnapped from a school playground where he, along with several children, was celebrating Holi on Thursday. Later, when the police swung into action and the entire rural belt was cordoned off for checking, the unknown kidnappers abandoned the child at Hothian village and fled.

The victim has been identified as Harsh, a resident of Jastarwal village that falls under Bhindi Saida police station. The police are yet to identify the accused. The motive behind the kidnapping is not clear. Harsh belongs to a poor family. His father is a daily wager, said police officials. The father of the victim said he had no enmity.

The victim, a student of seventh standard, was kidnapped by two youths and taken away in a car here at around 4.30 pm. Immediately, the onlookers informed the police and his family members. Amritsar (Rural) SSP Parampal Singh said that due to intensive checking, the unidentified accused abandoned the boy near Radha Soami Satsang Bhavan at Hothia village.

The SSP said the police were working on different theories to crack the case. The CCTV cameras in the surroundings of the school are being scrutinised to identify the suspects. “Though we have managed to get a CCTV footage of the suspects, its quality is poor,” said another police official.