Passersby foiled a kidnap attempt in Sarojini Nagar, South Delhi, on Sunday evening when they caught and beat up the alleged kidnappers who were trying to force a 25-year-old woman into a car after molesting her, the police today said.

Both suspects have been arrested and the police have registered a case of kidnapping against the duo.

The victim, who works with the front desk of Ashok Hotel, was returning home from work around 7 pm when the incident occurred.

The arrested men have been identified as Sunil Kumar (22), a cab driver with a Noida school, and Akash Deep (20). Police said the two admitted during interrogation that Deep is a guitarist at the Iskcon Temple in East of Kailash. But an Iskcon spokesperson said no one by that name works with the temple.

According to police, the victim (name withheld) was walking home on Hoshiar Singh Marg, near Africa Avenue, when a Maruti van stopped in front of her and two men in their early-twenties got out and molested her.

In her FIR, the victim said the two then tried to drag her into the van. As she cried out for help, a group of people walking on the road gathered and surrounded the van, the FIR says. The irate group first beat up the duo and then broke the van’s windowpanes.

While Sunil Kumar was caught in the melee, Akash Deep managed to escape. He was arrested later on information provided by Kumar, an officer said.

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