A non-local vendor was detained by police after the locals here caught him while allegedly attempting to kidnap a minor girl at Magray Mohallah in Drugmulla of northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Tuesday afternoon.
The mother of the girl said she was doing household chores when her three year old daughter (Arifa) went to fetch toffee from a shop. “All of a sudden she cried for help, as I went outside I saw a non-local (Bihari) trying to tie hands of my daughter with a rope,” said Shaheena, the mother.
“I shouted for help, and threw a stone on him. The vendor then fled from the spot, I tried to chase him, on a distance from the scene one of my neighbours caught hold of him,” Shaheena added.
“Upon being asked why he had tried to tie the kid he (the non-local man) said he was just asking about a road. He had that rope along with a big bag with him,” she said.
Soon after the incident, locals rushed to the spot. “When the people asked him why he tried to lift the girl he (the non-local) said he had some other guys accompanying him who were lifting the kids,” an eyewitness Mohammad Rafiq said.
Locals present there informed the police. The police took the vendor into the custody for questioning.
People present on the spot shouted anti-government slogans and marched towards main market Fakirpora Drugmulla and demanded action against the alleged culprit.
Locals said that, we demand stern action against the non-local vendor.
When contacted, Drugmulla police chowki officer Zahoor Ahmad said, “We have arrested the man, rest of the details you will get from the higher-ups, as I am not authorized to talk.”
“A case has been registered in this regard. The accused has been identified as Asif from Uttar Pradesh. Investigation has been taken up,” DSP Headquarter Kupwara Yasir Parrey said.