Kidnapped amid gunfire, abandoned after 20 hours:Man furious over broken relationship abducted pregnant woman in Gwalior; love affair had begun two years ago

A dramatic kidnapping incident unfolded in Gwalior when a pregnant woman, identified as Reena alias Anju Gurjar, was abducted at gunpoint by her former fiancé and his armed gang. The incident occurred late Wednesday night in Gurja village, about 15 kilometers from the Tighra police station area. After nearly 20 hours of captivity, the victim was found abandoned in the dense forests of Lanka Pahad on Thursday evening. According to police sources, local villagers alerted authorities after spotting a woman sitting alone and disoriented in the jungle. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a police team reached the site, rescued her safely, and rushed her to Kamla Raja Hospital for medical treatment and examination. Police officials later confirmed that Reena was recovering and in a stable condition. 20 armed men stormed the village The terrifying chain of events began on Wednesday night when Yogendra Gurjar alias Yogi, a wanted criminal from Morena district, arrived in Gurja village along with about 20 armed men. Eyewitnesses and police reports state that the gang surrounded Reena’s house and began firing in the air to spread panic. While a few assailants broke into the house, others continued to shoot from outside to prevent anyone from escaping or alerting the authorities. Inside the house, they assaulted family members and forcibly dragged Reena away despite her being pregnant. The gang then fled the scene in multiple vehicles, heading toward the forest region bordering Morena. A crime fueled by rejection and revenge Preliminary investigations revealed that the abduction was an act of revenge and obsession. Yogendra’s marriage had once been arranged with Reena, but her family later called off the engagement after discovering his involvement in criminal activities. The family feared for their daughter’s safety and decided to marry her instead to Girraj Gurjar, a young man from the same region, about one and a half years ago. The rejection deeply angered Yogendra, who had reportedly been harassing and threatening Reena and her family ever since. According to police sources, Yogendra had sworn to kill Girraj and forcibly marry Reena, vowing to take revenge for what he saw as a personal insult. Reena’s statement: “They were taking me to Morena” In her statement to the police, Reena described the terrifying ordeal. She said that after her abduction, Yogendra and his men were taking her to Morena district, where he planned to hide her. However, as word of the kidnapping spread, police teams from multiple districts began tracking their movements. Realizing that they were being followed and fearing an encounter, Yogendra and his gang abandoned her in the forests of Lanka Pahad and escaped under the cover of darkness. She was found the following evening, exhausted and traumatized, but alive. How the story began: From love to obsession The relationship between the accused and the victim began around two years ago, in 2023. Before her marriage, Reena had been staying in Morena, at her uncle Ram Sahay Gurjar’s house, to prepare for her B.Ed examinations. It was during this period that she met Yogendra. According to family members, Yogendra became infatuated with Reena at first sight. He started following her and attempted to develop a relationship. However, when Reena’s father, Devendra Gurjar, came to know about Yogendra’s background and criminal reputation, he immediately arranged for her engagement to Girraj Gurjar of Gurja village. Yogi has no fear of the police A violent confrontation before the wedding The conflict escalated in July 2024, just 10 days before Reena’s wedding. Yogendra and a group of his associates arrived at her home in Sensapura village of Sheopur district, carrying firearms. He confronted Reena’s father at gunpoint, demanding that the marriage be canceled. When Devendra refused, the gang resorted to violence and fired over 100 rounds outside the house to intimidate the family. A case of attempted murder (Section 307 IPC) was registered against Yogendra, and a Rs 5,000 reward was announced for his arrest. Since then, Yogendra had gone into hiding but continued to threaten Reena and her husband. Fearing an attack, Reena’s family requested police protection during her wedding. On the day of the ceremony, Sheopur Police deployed a team outside the house, and the groom arrived under police security. Though the wedding was completed safely, Yogendra took this as a personal humiliation and vowed revenge. Ignored warnings and police inaction Following the wedding, Reena’s husband Girraj repeatedly approached the police, reporting threats from Yogendra. Despite multiple complaints, no preventive action was taken. Local residents now allege that the police’s negligence emboldened the accused, ultimately leading to this violent incident. A long criminal record Yogendra Gurjar, described by authorities as one of Morena’s most wanted gangsters, has a lengthy criminal record. He is accused in over a dozen serious offenses across Sheopur and Morena districts, including robbery, dacoity, murder, attempted murder, extortion, and threats to life. Police officials believe that he operates a small gang involved in contract crime and illegal weapon trade in the region. Police investigation and search operation Gwalior Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharmveer Singh Yadav confirmed that the woman was rescued safely and that teams from Gwalior, Morena, and Sheopur are jointly conducting raids to trace the accused. “The woman has been found safe and is receiving medical care. Accused Yogendra Gurjar and his associates will be arrested soon,” the SP said. Police have formed multiple search teams and deployed drone surveillance in forest areas near Morena border. Father’s account: “He threatened to kill us” Reena’s father, Devendra Gurjar, recounted the family’s long struggle with Yogendra’s threats. Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, he said: Before the wedding, Yogendra came to our house and warned that if Reena didn’t marry him, he would kill us. He fired several rounds outside our home to scare us. He is a dangerous man. He added that even after the wedding, the family lived in constant fear. “We married our daughter under police protection, but we always knew he might try something again. What happened this week proves that our fears were right,” Devendra said. Ongoing search for the fugitive As of Friday morning, police teams are conducting raids across Morena, Sheopur, and Gwalior districts to locate Yogendra and his accomplices. Authorities believe he may still be hiding in forested areas or rural hideouts. The police have appealed to locals to share any information that could help in his capture. Meanwhile, Reena remains under police protection at Kamla Raja Hospital as the investigation continues into one of Gwalior’s most shocking crimes of recent months.