­­­­­ Education Minister Mahendra Reddy has strongly advised parents and teachers to monitor their students’ whereabouts after a 14-year-old student of Ballantine Memorial School was alleged to have been abducted from her school.

Mr Reddy said teachers should ensure that students were picked up by their parents and not by any stranger that they had no clue about.

According to a Police statement, Year 9 student, Archana Kumar of BMS originally from Nadi, and currently resides in Namadi Heights in Suva was possibly abducted from the school.

It is alleged a man claiming to be her brother came and picked her up from the school during lunch break yesterday, Police said.

The man came in a minivan with Suva/Nadi/Suva printed on the side and SOTE printed on the windscreen, the Police report said.

Archana was wearing her green school uniform with black socks and sandals and was carrying her pink and black school bag.

“Parents are also advised to monitor who their children are associated with on a daily basis; they have to be the only ones picking up their children from school or any relative whom they trust.

“For our younger students in primary school; parents should be very vigilant with them after school and for our students in high school; teachers and parents should monitor them after school and see that they don’t end up in the wrong hands,” he said.

Police are appealing to the public to contact their nearest police station or Crime Stoppers on 919 if they have any information on the whereabouts of the abducted student Archana Kumar or any information regarding this case.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

Feedback:  arieta.vakasukawaqa@fijisun.com.fj