Two of three taken into custody from Thiruvananthapuram released, 19 hours since Abigail was kidnapped

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two people taken into custody from Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the abduction of six-year-old Abigail Sara from Pooyappally in Kollam, have been released. Two were taken into custody from Sreekanteswaram and one from Sreekaryam in the morning. Two from the car washing center in Sreekanteswaram were released. Rs 15 lakh was recovered from them. They were taken into custody on the basis of suspicion related to the car in which the child was kidnapped.

The state wide search for Abigail Sara has crossed 19 hours. The police have escalated their search all over Kerala. The whole Malayalees are praying that nothing should happen to the child. The police have released a sketch of the suspect.

The incident that shocked the state happened at 4:30 pm yesterday. The masked gang in the car also tried to abduct Abigail's brother Jonathan but somehow, he escaped from their hands. The child’s mother received a call at 7.45 pm from a woman demanding a ransom of Rs 5 lakh. The gang reached a shop at Kulamada in Paripally and from the phone of Girija, the owner of the shop, called the child’s mother. She said the man and the woman arrived in an auto. They left after buying biscuits, rusk and coconut from the shop. The woman then called the child’s mother again demanding Rs 10 lakh. She said the child is safe in their hands. When the girl’s mother asked if would return the child if given the money now, she replied the boss’ direction is to give the amount at ten in the morning. She hung up the phone asking to arrange Rs 10 lakh. The police have started an investigation on this number as well.

Abigail is the younger daughter of Reji John and Ciji of Reji Bhavan near Pooyapally Kattadimukku. Reji is in-charge of dialysis at Pathanamthitta Muthoot Hospital and Ciji, a nurse at KIMS in Kottiyam.

The child was abducted in a white Honda car with a fake number plate. Abigail of class one and her brother Jonath of third class were going to their tuition class which is hundred meters away. Meanwhile, the car that came from behind stopped near the children. A man, who got out of the car handed Abigail a piece of paper asking to give it to her mother and then quickly dragged her into the car. When he caught Jonathan, he beat him with the stick he had in his hand and escaped. The car then sped away. The car went to Oyoor-Paripally route. Jonathan went home crying and only then the others came to know about it. Only Reji’s mother was in the house. The locals immediately informed the police. The police passed the information to all police stations in the state and Tamil Nadu. Surveillance cameras are also being investigated. Vehicle inspection continued. Kottarakkara DySP recorded the statement of Abigail's parents and brother. The investigation is under the supervision of ADGP Ajith Kumar.