Abductors in black Scorpio kidnap girl in broad daylight near Jawali; panic grips locals
TNR News Network
KANGRA: In a chilling incident that has sent shockwaves across Himachal Pradesh, a minor girl was abducted at gunpoint near Basantpur in Jawali sub-division of Kangra district on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) evening. The crime comes close on the heels of the recent ki*dnapping of three boarders from the prestigious Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, though the minor students were recovered within 24 hours.
According to police sources, the minor was travelling with her brother on a tractor, returning to their home in Meerthal, when a black Scorpio SUV bearing a Jammu and Kashmir (JK) registration number overtook them near Basantpur and abruptly blocked their path.
Eyewitnesses said that three armed men jumped out of the SUV, brandishing a pistol and forcibly pulled the girl off the tractor in a filmy-style abduction. The perpetrators then pushed her into the vehicle and sped off, leaving the brother and bystanders in shock.
Kidnappers flee after damaging vehicles
While escaping, the kidnappers reportedly rammed two vehicles, damaging them in the process. Eyewitnesses said the situation could have been far worse had there been a two-wheeler or pedestrian in the way. “They were driving recklessly and it looked like a scene straight out of a crime thriller,” said a local resident.
The victim’s family is in deep distress. Her parents, relatives and neighbours have been inconsolable since the incident and are pleading with authorities to act swiftly. “We just want our daughter back. Please save her,” cried the girl’s mother.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the local community, with villagers expressing anger at what they see as a serious failure of law and order.
Police launch statewide manhunt
Confirming the incident, Jawali DSP Viri Singh said a case had been registered and special teams had been formed to track down the abductors. All nearby police checkposts have been put on high alert and search operations have been intensified across Kangra and adjoining districts.
“We are treating this case with utmost urgency. All leads are being pursued and the search for the black Scorpio is ongoing,” the DSP said. He urged the public to report any suspicious vehicles or individuals immediately.
