Affection, not abduction; major twist in attempted kidnapping of sisters in Kochi; family withdraws complaint

KOCHI: Major twist in the kidnap attempt of girls who were going to tuition in Edappally Ponekkara. The complaint took a crucial turn when the Omani couple clarified that they were not trying to kidnap the children but were trying to give sweets to children of their daughter's age. With this, the family withdrew the complaint.

The incident took place at 4.45 pm on Friday. The complaint was that the six and five-year-old sisters were going to a house two houses away from home for tuition when someone in a car tried to kidnap them. The allegation was that the people in the car tried to give the children candy and when the sisters did not accept it, they grabbed the children by the arms and dragged them into the car. The children reported this to the tuition centre and the local councillor was informed afterwards. The councillor informed the Elamakkara police. The police arrived and recorded the children's statements and examined the CCTV footage in the nearby area. The children stated that there was a woman and two men in the car.

Upon inspection, the police found that the people had come in a taxi. The passengers were later found during an investigation. The passengers in the car were an Omani national, his wife, and his six-year-old daughter. They explained the matter to the police and the children's parents. They said that the elder child did not accept the candy, but the younger child accepted it and that they gave the candy to them when they felt affection. The Omani nationals had come to visit Kerala. In the meantime, they came to know that someone they knew was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. They said that they met the children on their way back from here. The incidents took place when the Omani couple was about to leave on Saturday.