An unknown miscreant made a failed attempt to kidnap a five-year-old girl before canceling the plan midway due to apparent fear of being caught after the child raised an alarm.
The incident reported to have taken place in Panikoili Police jurisdiction of Jajpur district on Friday. The local police rescued the minor girl from near Soti area on the National Highway-16.
According to sources, the accused whose identity is yet to be ascertained picked the minor girl from Padanga village near Sankhachila area and was going to an unknown location on a bicycle when some passersby spotted him.
They grew suspicious after noticing that the girl crying. When the locals asked the accused, he fled leaving the girl there.
“We spotted the man taking the girl on a bicycle. As she was crying, we raised suspicion and inquired about her from the rider. He got frightened and escaped from the spot,” said an eyewitness.
Subsequently, the locals contacted the police who then rescued the little girl from the spot.