Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SS)
Udupi, Jul 27: People living in Malpe and its surroundings are tense about rumours doing the rounds that kidnapping cases of children are on the rise.
There is a rumoured incident that happened in Malpe near Vadbhandeshawara. On July 21, a girl was said to be waiting for a school bus to arrive when three of them came in a car and offered her a chocolate in a bid to abduct her. It is said that when the girl shouted out for help the kidnappers fled from the scene.
Malpe police station (file photo)
Malpe police have registered a complaint received from the locals and have started investigating into the matter based on the information. The police are examining footage from nearby CC cameras. While parents are tensed about their children's safety, messages regarding the kidnap episodes are doing the rounds on WhatsApp.
Malpe police station inspector Shaktivelu said based on the CC cameras footage it was found that there was no vehicle stationed near the place at the designated time and place where the schoolgirl was standing. He said the girl must have told this out of fear and appealed to the public not to heed to such rumours.