Indian-Origin 8-Year-Old Girl Kidnapped In South Africa, Triggers Protests By Locals: Report

Hundreds of residents marched to the local police station, demanding that Abirah be returned immediately and safely, as well as the kidnappers be apprehended.

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The kidnapping of Abirah Dekhta, an eight-year-old Indian-origin girl living in Cape Town, South Africa, has sparked outrage among the city's residents. Residents have accused the police of being inactive in the investigation of the case, despite the fact that the girl was abducted 10 days ago, news agency PTI reported. 

Abirah, a student of Rylands Primary School, was abducted on the morning of November 4 from her school transport vehicle by some unknown persons while she was waiting for another student.

Her parents settled in Cape Town from India some years ago. Her father runs a mobile phone shop in the city.

According to PTI, "despite the passage of ten days, police have remained tight-lipped about the investigation, prompting residents of Cape Town's Indian-dominated suburb of Gatesville to demand answers from authorities."

Abira's distraught family refused to speak to the media, but a close associate of theirs, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were going through a very difficult time and had not eaten for many days.

There was also no word on whether a ransom demand had been made.

"The large turnout demonstrates how many people's lives have been touched by Abirah's kidnapping," she said, adding that the kidnappers had made contact with the family but that she was unaware of any ransom demands, PTI reported. 

Hundreds of Gatesville residents marched to the Athlone police station over the weekend, demanding the immediate and safe return of Abirah and the arrest of the kidnappers.

"The incident occurred in broad daylight, and witnesses came forward to provide all information to authorities." "We expected the child to be reunited with her family by now," Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Fawzia Veerasamy told the Cape Argus, PTI reported. 

"Because residents don't know who will be next, they are anxious and fearful." People want assurances that police are taking action to stop these kidnappings. They are simply quiet...people want to hear that the perpetrators are in jail," Veerasamy explained.

Rylands Primary School students also held a peaceful protest on the school grounds, holding placards and chanting "bring back Abirah" and "bring back our friend."

According to PTI, due to the sensitive nature of the case and the risk to the victim, both the South African Police Services and the elite Hawks investigating unit have declined to provide any information about it. 

Residents, however, say they are "fed up" with the authorities' lack of feedback and action, despite a number of kidnappings of businessmen in the last year, including another child in September who was reunited with his family.

Shahnawaz Asghar, six, was kidnapped at gunpoint outside his Kensington home last month before being released unharmed two days later. There was no information on whether a ransom was paid, according to PTI. 

(With Inputs From PTI)