Siblings save man from abduction

The incident was witnessed by siblings Shamshad (26) and Shahnaz (21) and they managed to free Gupta from the miscreants,sustaining gunshot wounds in the process. Shamshad,who runs a cloth shop in Kasai Bara,is still admitted in hospital,Shahnaz was discharged after first aid.

“It seemed the miscreants had possibly been stalking Gupa for the last few days,” said the siblings’ neighbour Rahul Razdan,a resident of Moti Nagar who was eyewitness to the incident. They knew that Gupta goes to the temple every morning,and were waiting for him around 200 yards from his home. “As Gupta reached their car,two of them came out with firearms and tried to pull him inside,” said Razdan.

Gupta began shouting for help. “Hearing a furore outside our home,my brother Shamshad and I rushed out,” said Shahanaz. Shamshad ran towards the car and pulled Gupta out. “The men tried to push my brother away,but I joined the melee. Morning walkers too stopped by to help but before they could do anything,the goons took out a gun and fired at us. My brother fell and the men escaped,” she said. Razdan rushed them to the Trauma Centre in his car.

Lauding Shamshad’s bravery,Deputy Inspector General,Lucknow,NK Srivastava,said he was asking the administration to recommend the names of both Shamshad and Shehnaz for Shaurya Chakra. “Shamshad grappled with the man who was trying to push Gupta into the car,which helped him free himself,” said Srivastava.

Gupta denied having enmity with anyone,said Additional Superintendent of Police Paresh Pandey. “We have detained four persons for questioning and four teams have been formed to investigate the case,” he added.