Imphal, December 01: In a daring feat, a 16-year old boy escaped from the clutches of his armed abductors who picked him up from the high security zone area of BT Road crossing leading to the State Museum in broad daylight yesterday afternoon with the help of a blade.

The teenaged boy is identified as Beishamayum Pradeepkumar (16) s/o of Rohinikumar of Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai, but presently staying at Paona Bazar.

Pradeep is a student of New Era English School, Governor Road, Paona Bazar and is presently giving his Class IX (roll no 20) final examination.

According to information received by the press, Pradeepkumar was returning home after his examination yesterday at around 2.30 pm.

But on realising that he should collect his NCC uniforms, he came straight towards Johnstone Higher Secondary School.

As he reached the BT Road crossing from State Museum side, unidentified armed persons numbering 4/5 of waylaid him and dragged him inside a White Maruti Gypsy standing already nearby and sped off from there.

Once inside the vehicle, he was blinded folded and his hands and legs were bound.

The unknown abductors who appeared to be in their early 30s are said to be neat and clean in their appearance.

The armed persons reportedly asked the teenaged boy to which outfit he belonged to.

When the boy told them that he was just a student, the armed persons slapped him on the face.

After a long drive, the Gypsy stopped at a spot and Pradeepkumar heard them getting out of the vehicle and talking over the wireless set.

He could make out the instruction given over the wireless for taking him up to a hillock.

Taking advantage of the moment, he took out a blade kept for sharpening his pencil from the school bag and managed to cut off the ropes binding him and removed the blindfold.

Then he quietly slipped out of the vehicle and ran for his life through the neighbouring houses and by-lanes.

Finally he ran inside a house and narrated his ordeal to the house owner.

The time was around 6.30 pm.

When he learnt that he was in Wangoo, he asked the owner about one of his grandfathers who lives in Wangoo.

Fortunately, the house owner happened to know his grandfather and later took him over and handed over the teenaged boy to his grandfather.

The grandfather telephoned Pradeepkumar's parents at Imphal who came to take him back later in the night.

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