A daring abduction attempt involving sedative spray was foiled in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur, thanks to the quick thinking of a 12-year-old girl who managed to escape alongside her 16-month-old cousin. The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon in Binna village, situated within the Baldia Union, triggering widespread concern among local residents regarding child safety.
According to family members, the young girl, identified as Mimi, a fifth-grade pupil at the local Binna Government Primary School, had stepped outside her home after lunch carrying her toddler cousin, Ayan. Near a local shop, she spotted an unfamiliar woman clad in a burqa who appeared to be unwell. Driven by curiosity and helpfulness, Mimi approached her, only for the woman to retrieve a bottle from her bag and discharge an incapacitating spray directly onto the child’s face.
The chemical spray partially disoriented the young girl. Taking advantage of her weakened state, the assailant guided Mimi and the toddler down the road, handing them over to a male accomplice who bundled both children into a waiting three-wheeler auto-rickshaw. The abductors transported them to the fish market area near Miarhat Port.
By the time the vehicle reached Miarhat Port, the disorienting effects of the spray began to wear off. The male suspect forced the children out of the auto-rickshaw and produced a knife, threatening them to maintain silence. However, a moment of distraction presented itself when the man turned away to answer a telephone call. Seizing the brief window of opportunity, Mimi grabbed her baby cousin and slipped away quietly through the market crowd. She navigated her way to her aunt’s nearby residence, where the children finally found sanctuary.
The commotion came to light around 4:00 PM when Mimi’s mother, Mariam Begum, received an urgent phone call from her sister inquiring about the girl’s whereabouts. While Mariam began searching the neighbourhood, her sister called back to confirm that both children had arrived safely at her house and recounted the harrowing escape.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the rural community. Senior local educator Mohammad Enamul Huq Ratan expressed deep relief over the children’s safe return while highlighting growing anxieties among parents. He noted that if an organised gang using chemical incapacitants is actively targeting schoolchildren in the region, immediate law enforcement action is essential to restore public confidence.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Nesarabad Police Station, Md. Mehdi Hasan, stated that law enforcement authorities became aware of the incident through social media posts detailing the event. Police officers have initiated a preliminary investigation to verify the claims and trace potential suspects, though no formal written complaint had been lodged by the family at the time of reporting.
