Kerala heaves a sigh of relief as Kidnapped girl traced after 20 hours in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The six-year-old girl abducted on Monday evening by unidentified kidnappers was found abandoned at the Asramam ground in Kollam on Tuesday, bringing an end to the 20-hour ordeal faced by the family and the entire state.

Abigel Sara Reji, who was left abandoned by an unidentified woman at Asramam ground, is safe and healthy.

The child was dragged into the white sedan by a three-member gang on Maruthanampally Road near Ayoor at around 4.30 pm in Kollam district on Monday.

The kidnappers also tried to abduct the girl's eight-year-old brother Jonathan, but he managed to save himself from their clutches.

The incident happened when the children were on their way to a tuition centre nearby.

Students spotted the girl first 

S N College student Dhananjaya who along with her friend, first saw the child told media persons; “At around 1.30 pm, we were returning from our college after taking the exam, when we saw a woman coming along with a child. After seating the child on a concrete bench, the woman left the place. We thought she might come back and take the child. But she didn’t return, following which we became suspicious. We approached the child and asked her to remove the mask. We matched her face with her picture on the mobile phone which had gone viral after the kidnapping incident yesterday. By now we were sure that it was the same kidnapped child. The child said she knew the mobile phone number of her mother. She herself dialled the number and connected with her mother. After confirming her identity, the police were informed about the child.”

Soon police teams arrived at the scene and took the child to the Armed Reserve Police camp. The father of the child also joined her later.

According to eyewitnesses, earlier the woman along with two men planned to abandon the child inside the Income Tax Officers’ residential quarters near  Asramam ground. However, the security guard objected to the move following which they went away.

The people who gathered called on the mobile number spoke to her father and confirmed her identity. "She was looking tired and upset but didn’t seem to have any health issues," said a youth who was present at the spot.

Eyewitnesses said that a woman wearing a yellowish-green churidar brought the girl to the ground. Two men also accompanied her. However, nobody saw them leaving the place.

Meanwhile, an autorickshaw driver who reportedly brought the woman to the Asramam ground where the child was abandoned, has been detained by the police. He confirmed that the woman had boarded his auto along with the child. He is being questioned to ascertain the identity of the woman.

The father of the child met Abigel at the armed police camp. She spoke to her mother, and grandparents on video call bringing huge relief to the family.

"I thank God for bringing back my child safe and healthy. I have no words to thank the people of the state and all who prayed for my child. I thank the police, media, local residents’ media persons,” her mother said.