Odisha: Three Ravenshaw girl students abducted; found abandoned in Kharagpur

Cuttack: In a shocking incident, three students of the Ravenshaw College were allegedly abducted in Cuttack and found abandoned on a roadside in Kharagpur in neighbouring state of West Bengal.

The incident took place in broad daylight on December 19 while the trio was travelling in an auto-rickshaw to Badambadi. However, no probe has been initiated so far.

According to reports, two Plus II Arts students, one hails from Korei area in Jajpur district and another from Dhusuri locality in Bhadrak district, of the Ravenshaw College were staying in a private hostel. They hired an auto-rickshaw at around 2.15 pm on the fateful day for Badambadi Bus Stand from where they were to catch a bus to head to their native places. On the way, they picked up another girl, a Plus III student of Ravenshaw College, who was waiting for the duo to travel to Badambadi for purchasing some medicines.

Reportedly, the auto-rickshaw driver stopped the vehicle near a canal at Ranihat and moved somewhere to buy betel. After sometime, he returned and allegedly made them unconscious by spraying chemicals on their faces.

After two students did not reach their houses by evening, their family members tried to contact them on their phone numbers, which were switched off. Later, they contacted the hostel staff and other friends to know whereabouts of missing girls but went in vain.

Sources said that the three were kidnapped in an SUV after they went unconscious in the auto-rickshaw. They found themselves abandoned on a roadside in Kharagpur when they woke up at around 7.55 pm on the same day. They managed to reach the Kharagpur Railway Station and with help of railway police, they contacted their families.

On receiving information, the panicked family members rushed to Kharagpur to rescue them. After showing required documents proving their identities, the police handed over the victims to the family members.

The victims alleged that the abductors left them abandoned after looting their cash. However, their phones, which were switched off, were found inside their bags.

Police sources said that an SUV was spotted near the road while vehicle checking was being conducted on the NH in Kharagpur. The miscreants might have dumped the victims on the road and fled from the area leaving the vehicle.

Latest reports said that the rescued victims are undergoing treatment at private hospitals. While one complaint has been lodged in Bhadrak, two students will file their complaints at Commissionerate Police after recovery.