LUCKNOW: Thirteen-year-old Akhand had seen kidnappings only in films but when he faced the nightmarish experience in real life, he held on to his nerves and never lost the hope that his would save him.
“My parents are the devotees of Lord Hanuman and I had firm belief that they would save me,” Akhand told the TOI in an exclusive chat over the phone. “My father taught me to keep faith in the God. I kept reciting the name of Lord Hanuman. My captors were not very cruel. They gave me proper food but kept me in a dingy room which had no ventilation. They did not let me talk to my parents and made me believe that they would never come to rescue me,” he said.
He said two men stopped him to seek his help in removing a flat tyre. “They bundled me in the car and took me to a dark flat. Initially, I thought it was some prank and I demanded to meet my father. It was then that one of my captors told me that I have been kidnapped,” he added.
“Only on the wee hours of Saturday that I sensed the approaching footsteps of people who came to my resuce. I demanded a bottle of water as I highly dehydrated,” he said.
A video also went viral in which cops are seen untying the knot of the rope on Akhand’s hands and pulling the cloth over his eyes. The boy is heard asking cops to bring his shorts and t-shirt. He also tries to take off his vest which is drenched in sweat. Victim’s father, Ashok Gupta, said: “I will always be grateful to Lord Hanuman. I thank Basti police for quick action,” he said.
