Patna: Traffic in New Karbighiya area remained paralysed for nearly three hours on Wednesday as enraged family members and local residents staged a road blockade demanding the safe recovery of a 25-year-old youth, who was allegedly abducted on July 6. Protesters burned tyres, raised slogans against the police and dispersed only after senior police and district officials assured them that all efforts were being made to rescue the victim and arrest those responsible.The missing youth, identified as Bunty, a resident of New Karbighiya Cemetery Lane, was allegedly abducted around 1.30am on Monday. According to his family, Bunty, who sold chowmein and other fast food from a roadside cart, had gone to a shop near Patna Junction to buy curd when a group of men assaulted him, forced him into a black SUV and fled. CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced.Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor also reached the protest site and extended support to the family. He said he would join local residents in their agitation if Bunty was not recovered within two days. The protest took place despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force due to the Bankipur Assembly by-election.Bunty’s sister, Gudiya Devi, alleged that her brother had raised his voice against prostitution in the locality and claimed this was the reason behind his kidnapping.The family lodged a complaint at Kotwali police station on Tuesday and later staged a protest there, alleging police failed to trace Bunty despite several hours having passed since the abduction. They claimed that prompt action could have led to his earlier recovery.However, the police said a kidnapping case was registered immediately after receiving the complaint on July 7 and that a special investigation team was formed under the supervision of senior officers.ASP (law and order-I) Krishna Murari Prasad said, “The victim’s mother named two accused in the FIR and also mentioned the involvement of seven to eight unidentified persons. Based on technical surveillance and human intelligence, one suspect has been detained. Multiple teams are conducting raids to safely rescue the abducted youth and arrest the remaining accused.”He said preliminary investigations indicated the abduction could be linked to a dispute with some people that took place two to three weeks ago. “Efforts are ubderway to safely recover Bunty and arrest all those involved,” he added.
