the goan I network
VASCO
Alert residents on Saturday foiled an attempt to kidnap a 6-year-old girl in Vasco. The accused, a native of Uttar Pradesh was severely thrashed and later tied to a traffic signboard before being handed over to Vasco police.
The incident occurred at around 10.30 am on Saturday when the father of the child (a resident of Sada) had stopped at the Bank of India ATM to withdraw cash.
Narrating the incident, the girl’s father said, “I had to pay the courier for something that I had ordered online. As I stood in the queue at the ATM, I held the hand of my daughter. While I reached for my wallet to get my ATM card, I felt someone pulling my daughter. As I turned around, I saw this man hold my daughter’s neck... he pulled her and began running towards the road”.
Shocked by the incident, I immediately raised an alarm and ran behind the accused. The people who were in the vicinity also ran and managed to nab the accused and save my daughter, he said.
The incident drew a large crowd which later severely thrashed the accused and tied him to a pole.
Speaking to media, Vasco Police Inspector Nolasco Raposo said they received information that one Uttam Kumar Bind, (42) had attempted to kidnap a minor girl near the Bank of India ATM in Vasco while she was standing in the queue with her father.
“Subsequently, PSI Vikas Dayekar rushed to the spot and brought the accused to the police station. We are going to take further action as per law. We will record the statement of the parents and send the accused for a medical examination. We have arrested the accused under Section 8 of Goa Children’s Act and other Sections of IPC,” Raposo said.
Residents have raised concerns as the incident comes with Saptah festival just round the corner. They have urged the police to enquire about the antecedents of the accused and check if he is part of a gang that could operate during the Saptah festival.
Meanwhile, residents who were witness to the incident said that the accused Bind could be mentally unstable. They have demanded that entry points into the city like the railway station, port, bus stand or airport should have a strong police force to check such mentally unsound people in Vasco.
