"If I had known that it was her, I wouldn't have let her go"

KOLLAM: "If I had known that it was Abigail, I wouldn't have let her go", Sajeev, a local driver from Kanjiramkuzhi, Anchalummoodu working at the auto stand near Kollam KSRTC bus stand said.

On Tuesday around 1 pm, a woman and a child were seen under the scorching sun near Punarjani Park along the Link Road after having a meal at Ashramam ground. The woman shielded the child's head with a shawl. When asked their destination, she mentioned heading towards Ashramam.

Upon reaching the barbed wire fence near Ashwati Bar, the woman requested the auto to halt. Despite the driver's inability to pass through the fence, she insisted on managing it herself. Later, she asked to be dropped off on the road leading to the ground where a driving test was underway.

An amount of Rs 200 was tendered and the driver returned Rs 160. The tired child struggled to get down from the autorickshaw which raised concerns of possible fever. The woman appeared to be around 35 years old. Throughout the auto ride, the child remained silent causing no suspicion for the driver who then returned to the stand.

Thirty minutes later, Sajeev received a call from his son-in-law revealing that the child had been found. He immediately rushed to East station and reported the information to the police who took his statement.