Students in Patna demand release of their kidnapped schoolmate

Students of a school in Bihar took to the streets on Saturday to protest the kidnapping of their twelve-year-old schoolmate, Akash.

Patna, Aug 18 : Students of a school in Bihar took to the streets on Saturday to protest the kidnapping of their twelve-year-old schoolmate, Akash.

Akash, a class seven student at the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School in Shastri Nagar in Patna, was whisked away in a car by kidnappers while going to school on August 10.

Holding placards and shouting slogans, the students marched through the city's streets appealing for Akash's release.

"We are here because Akash has been kidnapped. We are requesting the kidnappers to free him because he is just a kid. And, since we ourselves are children, we can feel the pain he must be going through. We hope that he will be released soon," said Nitu Kumari, student of Dayanand Anglo Vedic school.

Ravi Kumar, another student, said: "Akash is a boy like us. He has been kidnapped and we hope for his safe return to his family."

A week ago, the students had performed a fire ritual for the safe return of their schoolmate.

There has been no breakthrough in the case, even eight days after the kidnapping.

Akash's family has ruled out enmity as a cause behind the kidnapping, and police are still clueless.

Nearly 5,000 people have been abducted in Bihar in the past year, of which 2,217 were kidnapped in the first half of 2007. The figure has been compiled from reports submitted to the Patna High Court by district judges of various districts.

ANI