Mumbai, Jul 13 — A 16-year-old girl in Thane displayed remarkable courage and presence of mind to escape a kidnapping attempt by attacking the driver of an auto-rickshaw with a geometry compass and jumping out of the moving vehicle.
The incident occurred around noon on July 9 in Bhiwandi, when the girl boarded an auto-rickshaw to go to school. According to police, an unknown man was already inside the rickshaw when she got in. As they neared her school, she asked the driver to stop, but he sped up instead.
Sensing danger, the girl used a compass from her geometry box to stab the driver. She then pushed the man sitting beside her and leapt out of the moving rickshaw, managing to reach her school safely.
After informing her mother about the incident, a police complaint was filed. The Shanti Nagar police registered a case under sections 137(2) (kidnapping) and 62 (attempt to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“The girl’s presence of mind and quick action helped her escape the situation unharmed. A probe is underway to identify and apprehend the suspects,” a police official said.
Authorities praised the girl for her bravery, noting that her swift response likely prevented a serious crime. Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and questioning local drivers as part of the investigation. (Agencies)
