1 killed, 6 injured in kidnapping incident

The six-month-old child of a prominent city-based businessman was being taken away by the kidnappers when their car hit a rickshaw and a number of two wheelers coming from the opposite direction, police said.

As soon as the vehicle came to a halt, bystanders forced their way inside and rescued the infant unharmed.

Two kidnappers were held and severely thrashed before police arrived on the scene, though the other two managed to escape, they said.

The condition of one of the injured, who has been rushed to Medical College hospital, and an alleged kidnapper is said to be "serious."

The four had allegedly entered the house of the businessman at Marris Road around 2 pm and attacked the mother of the child before escaping.

When the on-duty policeman at Centre Point crossing tried to stop them from moving on the one way road, the men fired in the air to scare him away after which the accident happened, police said.

Meanwhile, scores of protesters, including traders, from nearby markets blocked traffic at Centre Point market for several hours in protest against the brazen daylight kidnapping bid.

They were pacified by Senior Superintendent of Police Piyush Mordia who arrived at the spot.