A sensational incident took place at around 1:30 pm on Thursday night in Kothian village of Phooliakalan police station area. Here 88 year old elderly woman Mangi Devi Mali was kidnapped by miscreants. The woman’s hands and legs were tied by stuffing a cloth in her mouth. Hearing the noise, the miscreants threw the woman in a field about 300 meters away and ran away.
Sunita Mali, wife of the woman’s grandson Sanjay Mali, told that she had woken up at night to drink water. Then they heard a movement like someone entering the house. She immediately informed her husband about the situation and other members of the house also woke up. When I went into the room, I saw that grandmother and mother-in-law Mangi Devi Mali were missing. The main gate of the house was closed from outside.
The family and villagers immediately started searching. After a search of about half an hour, the woman was found safe in a wheat crop field, about 300 meters away from the house. The woman’s hands and legs were tied and a cloth was stuffed in her mouth, due to which she was unable to make any sound.
The family said that the woman’s silver jewelery weighing about one and a half kilos was found safe and there were no injury marks on her body. Seeing this the family heaved a sigh of relief.
The woman’s grandson Suresh Mali has lodged a complaint of theft and attempted kidnapping at Phooliakalan police station. The police is strictly investigating the matter and a search operation is being conducted in the surrounding area.
Experts say the elderly and people living alone are at greater risk of these types of crimes. In such cases, immediate police assistance and vigilance of the village people are necessary. In this incident also, the quick response of the villagers and family saved the woman’s life.
Local police said they are trying to identify the culprits on the basis of CCTV footage and statements of people nearby. Police believe that this case could be an accidental theft or an attempt to kidnap.
Even after the elderly woman was found safe, the family members have decided to increase vigilance towards security. Police and administration have also issued instructions to increase night security in the village and ensure the safety of the elderly.
In short, the case of kidnapping of 88-year-old Mangi Devi Mali in Kothian village of Bhilwara and her hands and feet being tied became a sensation in the entire area. Luckily the woman was found safe and the police have started a serious investigation into the kidnapping and theft. This incident is also a message of caution for the elderly and villagers.