Palakkad, Kerala – April 5: A man from Tamil Nadu was apprehended on Friday night for allegedly kidnapping a one-year-old girl from an Odisha-based couple aboard the Tata Nagar Express while they were asleep, according to police reports.
Accused Intercepted by Locals at Olavakkode
The incident unfolded when the accused de-boarded the train at Olavakkode station in Palakkad, carrying the child. However, the toddler’s cries drew attention from nearby autorickshaw drivers and local residents, who found the man’s responses suspicious during questioning.Sensing something was wrong, the locals intervened, rescued the child from the man, and promptly alerted the authorities.
Prompt Action by Police and Locals
An officer from the Palakkad Town North police station confirmed that the accused is currently in custody and that his arrest will be formally recorded soon. According to the officer, the man had attempted to flee with the sleeping child, but his plan was foiled thanks to the quick response of the public.Parents' Ordeal During Journey to Aluva
The child’s parents, who hail from Odisha and were traveling to Aluva for work, recounted their traumatic experience in a television interview. They said the coach they were in was nearly empty, and they had dozed off holding their daughter.“We woke up when the train reached Thrissur and realised that our daughter was missing. We searched on the train, but did not find her. So, we got down and informed the railway police there,” the father said.
Thanks to timely local intervention and swift police action, the child was safely reunited with her parents. The investigation is ongoing.
