School kidnapping returns to haunt Patna

Patna, Aug 10 (UNI) A seventh standard student was kidnapped from near his school in Bihar today.

Aakash, a student of DAV school, was kidnapped on the VIP Baily road near J D Women's college under Shastringar police station area in the state capital.

According to police, Aakash was abducted on his way to school.

About three unidentified criminals escaped after dragging Aakash in their vehicle.

Eye witnesses present at the spot chased the van, but in vain.

The area where the kidnapping took place in considered a VIP area as former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra resides there and the school is located near Aakash's residence. Meanwhile, the police have swung into action, sealing all exit routes of the state capital and frisking vehicles.

Yogendra Pandey, father of Aakash, said he had not received any call for ransom and being a salaried person, he was not in a position to satisfy any such demand. He has ruled out any personal rivalry.

He said Aakash was not keeping well for the past few days and after recovering, had left home for school.

Bihar has earned a notorious reputation for child kidnappings.

In the past Golu, Siddshant Parmar, Dipak, Ankit, Shivani, Kislay and numerous other children have been kidnapped.

Within the past one year, about 14 school students have been abducted from the state capital.

As per official reports compiled by state authorities, maximum abductions have taken place in Patna under the nose of the adminstration. On several occasions, the High Court too has taken suo moto notice of the kidnappings. The PILs had directed the state government to initiate measures to prevent child abductions.

Following the directions, the state government had chalked out strategies to provide security cover to school going children and for this, mobile police teams conducted patrolling around the school areas.

Police personnel were also deployed at the gates of most of the schools and the concerned police stations were entrusted with the responsibilities for student security in their jurisdiction.

After a meeting with the school administration, representatives of the guardians and police authorities, the students were provided proper Identity cards carrying their details.

UNI