Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 28 (IANS): Eighteen hours have passed since a six year-old girl was kidnapped near Kollam while returning home along with her brother, but the Kerala police have failed to make any significant breakthrough in the case leaving the entire state perplexed.

According to police, the incident took place when the girl, along with her eight-year-old brother, was returning home at Oyoor near Kollam when a white car stopped beside them around 4.45 p.m on Monday. Those inside got down, pushed the boy and sped away with the girl. Despite a massive combing operation by police, the child remains untraced.

The child has been identified as Abigel Sarah Regi.

At around 8.15 p.m., the girl's mother received a call in a man's voice assuring her that the girl is safe. Soon, a woman came on line and demanded Rs 5 lakh as ransom for the release.

Later, after 10 p.m, the woman called again raising the ransom money to Rs 10 lakh and said if they paid, on Tuesday morning, they would bring the girl to her home at 10 a.m.

Top police official IG of Police Spurgen Kumar, who is leading the probe, said multiple teams are doing their job and they have managed to get some information.

He confirmed that the registration number of the car used in the crime was fake.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the police to ensure that nothing is left to chance and to do their best in tracing the child.