A group of teenaged boys whisked away a girl student of a reputable public school near Patna High Court in the Friday morning rush hour, sending senior police officers into a tizzy.

Some people waiting at a bus stand near the school gate managed to nab one of the accused. The youth, said to be a first-year student of Bachelor of Arts was handed over to Kotwali police but not before the bystanders gave him a good thrashing.

Around 9am, a group of four youths, including the son of an autorickshaw drivers’ association leader Ajay Patel, reached the gate of the premier school and forced the girl, said to be a student of Class VII, into the car waiting outside. The girl was forced to sit in the Indica in spite of initial protests, eyewitnesses told the police.

The youth caught was later identified as Namit (name changed), a resident of Mandiri under the jurisdiction of Buddha Colony police station.

As the news about his detention fanned across the city like wildfire, the three other accused reportedly dropped the girl near Chiraiyatand overbridge in Kankerbagh and escaped. The girl later reached her Kankerbagh home safely.

The girl’s parents later visited the Kotwali police station and narrated the incident to the police officers, who downplayed the incident for obvious reasons. One of the alleged tormentors is said to be the ward of a former MP, who enjoys immense clout.

“The parents of the girl accused the youths of harassing their minor daughter,” said Patna senior superin- tendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj.

The SSP, however, feigned ignorance about any formal complaint lodged against the youths.

“We are looking into the matter from all angles. Prima facie, love affair appears to be the ostensible reason behind the incident. The girl was not kidnapped as reported earlier,” he said, adding that the antecedents of the detained youth were being verified.

The incident took a U-turn when one of the youths, Mihir (name changed), said to be student of College of Commerce at Kankerbagh, alleged that Namit attempted to kidnap him along with his six-seven friends. “I reached the spot (near the girls’ school) after receiving Namit’s call on my cellphone. When I reached there, Namit (friend) tried to abduct me in the car,” Mihir told the police.

Kotwali police station house officer (SHO) Ajay Kumar confirmed that Namit had been detained for interrogation. “He is being questioned. His interrogation will help the police arrive at a logical conclusion as the whole incident is still shrouded in mystery,” he told The Telegraph.

A case of suspected kidnapping has been lodged against Namit.

The complaint has been lodged on the statement of his friend, Mihir, who was let off after preliminary questioning at the Kotwali police station, the SHO said.

Sources said the third suspect has been identified as Manish (name changed). The SHO said the vehicle, which was used to whisk away the girl, was yet to be recovered. “The police will quiz all the suspects in the case,” the SHO said.

The incident came to the fore within a week of four students of a Muzaffarpur-based public school found loitering with their girlfriend in suspicious manner near an underconstruction house.

A few other students were earlier booked for their alleged involvement in incidents of loot and murder in the divisional town.

The involvement of students in serious offences such as cash loot and murder made the senior superintendent of police of Muzaffarpur, Jitendra Rana, to visit premier institutes of the town and sensitise students to stay away from crime.

Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj also expressed concern over the involvement of juveniles in serious crimes.