Teen Girl’s Daring Escape from Kidnapper in Mumbai: Jumps from Moving Rickshaw

Manikpur, Vasai, Mumbai: A 16-year-old girl made a courageous escape from a kidnap attempt in Mumbai on Saturday evening by jumping from a moving auto rickshaw in the Manikpur area of Vasai.

The girl had been on her way home after shopping with her mother, who asked her to return alone from Vasai railway station. She hailed an auto rickshaw, but the driver took an unexpected turn into a quiet road. When the girl raised concerns, the driver claimed to be heading to a nearby garage to fix a problem with the vehicle. However, he stopped midway and started acting suspiciously. Realizing the danger, the girl made a brave decision and jumped out of the moving vehicle.

Bystanders quickly gathered around her, and she used a passerby’s phone to contact her mother. The police, with the help of CCTV footage, were able to identify the driver as Prakash Vartak, a 29-year-old man, and his vehicle was seized from his residence. Police are actively searching for him.

This incident brings attention to the importance of safety for young travelers in the city.