Daijiworld Media Network - Dhar

Dhar, Sep 23: A shocking incident in Dhar district left residents in panic after a Class 12 student was kidnapped in broad daylight near Gandhwani bus stand on Monday. The kidnapping, captured on CCTV, showed three men forcibly dragging the girl into a Mahindra Bolero and fleeing the scene.

Witnesses said the girl was standing near an ATM when the vehicle screeched to a halt. The men gagged her and pushed her into the car. Villagers quickly rallied and chased the kidnappers on bikes and cars. The pursuit, spanning nearly 20 kilometres, saw the Bolero dangerously weaving through villages and fields. The chase ended near a village when the vehicle hit a herd of goats and broke down, forcing the accused to flee on foot, leaving the terrified girl behind.

Police, alerted by villagers, rescued the girl and returned her safely to her family. Superintendent of Police Mayank Awasthi said, “The culprits have been identified based on the survivor’s statement. A case has been registered against all three accused, and multiple police teams are conducting raids to arrest them.”

The incident comes shortly after a similar case in Mandsaur, where a 23-year-old woman was forcibly dragged away by relatives in public while practising Garba. The video went viral online, causing widespread outrage. Authorities said the woman, already married and living away from her family, was allegedly taken by relatives who reportedly brandished a pistol to threaten bystanders.