Vadodara: Quick action by a commuter saved a labourer’s infant daughter from being abducted in broad daylight near Kaladarshan crossroads on Waghodiya Road.
The commuter Sandeep Rawal stopped the auto-rickshaw in which the alleged kidnapper Bismillahbanu Pathan was trying to flee with the Kalpana Rajput’s daughter on Wednesday afternoon.
Pathan and Rajput had not known each other, yet the former walked into the latter’s house in slums in Somatalav area on Wednesday noon.
Pathan claimed that she and Rajput had shared an auto-rickshaw while leaving from SSG Hospital a day before and she helps needy mothers.
Although Rajput was not interested, Pathan forcefully took her and her mother Shyama to Mangal Bazaar to make purchases for the new-born and the mother.
After purchasing a saree for Rajput and some clothes for the infant, they were returning to Somatalav in an auto-rickshaw. On the way, Pathan stopped the auto near Kaladarshan crossroads and handed over a note of Rs 500 to Rajput to go and purchase soap and talcum powder from a medical store nearby.
Rajput handed over her daughter to Shyama and went to the store. Pathan sent Rajput’s mother too to help her and took the baby girl from her.
While the mother-daughter duo was busy at the store, Pathan asked the auto-rickshaw driver Satish Gavde to start the vehicle and leave. On seeing the auto leave, Shyama ran after it and dashed with Rawal.
She pleaded Rawal to chase the auto-rickshaw as Pathan was fleeing with her granddaughter. Rawal immediately sped towards the auto-rickshaw and told Gavde to turn around saying Pathan was a kidnapper.
Gavde turned around the vehicle and called the police control room.
A while later, a PCR van came to take away Pathan to Panigate police station where Rajput lodged a complaint of kidnapping.