Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh): Authorities in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district successfully rescued renowned social activist and Padma Shri recipient Phoolbasan Bai Yadav from an abduction attempt on Tuesday morning. Three suspects, including two women, have been taken into custody.

The incident unfolded at Yadav’s residence in Sukuldaihan village around 10.30 am. According to police officials, a woman identified as Khushbu Sahu approached Yadav, claiming a person with a disability waiting in a nearby car wished to take a selfie with the activist.

Once Yadav entered the vehicle, the suspects allegedly sped off, subsequently binding her hands and gagging her. The plot was derailed by a stroke of luck when a traffic police unit, conducting routine checks near the Chikhli police outpost, flagged the vehicle down.

When questioned about the bound and gagged passenger, the suspects reportedly claimed she was an epilepsy patient. However, an alert officer recognised Yadav and immediately intervened to rescue her.

Investigation and background

The three detainees—Sahu, another female accomplice, and a male driver—are currently undergoing interrogation. City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Alexander Kiro noted that Sahu, the primary suspect, has been associated with a self-help group (SHG) and had maintained contact with Yadav for several months.

"It is suspected that SHGs in Bemetara region were being mobilised in the name of employment training and money was being collected illegally," CSP Kiro said.

He added that while the preliminary investigation suggests a link to SHG-related financial irregularities, the exact motive behind the kidnapping remains under investigation.

Phoolbasan Bai Yadav is a celebrated figure in the SHG movement, honored with the Padma Shri in 2012. Since 2001, she has built a massive network of nearly two lakh women focused on economic empowerment, organic farming, and environmental conservation.

PTI