A drama unfolded at Harishchandrapur in Malda district on Monday as a group of criminals tried to abduct a Trinamul leader in broad daylight.

Local people, though initially baffled by the kidnap bid by the miscreants who also fired gunshots, managed to save Jahurul Islam, a vice-president of Trinamul’s minority cell in the district.

Islam, who is a quack, was abducted around 1pm when he was in his chamber at Koriali in Bhaluka.

Locals said a gang of 10 to 12 miscreants reached near his chamber in four SUVs.

“They got off the vehicles and fired in air to scare us. At least six rounds were fired. They then entered the quack’s chamber and soon, we found that he was being dragged by his collar by some of them. They were taking him near one of the vehicles,” said a witness.

Some residents shot the video of the incident on their cellphones, while others informed police. As the four vehicles started moving out of Bhaluka, some residents in nearby areas tried to stop them on the way.

The kidnappers then fired a few more rounds but suddenly, one of the vehicles lost balance and fell into a roadside ditch. The local people could find three abductors in the SUV and rescued Islam who was in the same vehicle.

A police team reached the spot and arrested the trio. “We have arrested three persons and searches are on for others. Our officers are investigating the case,” said Sanjay Das, the inspector-in-charge of Harishchandrapur police station.

Later on Monday, the residents demonstrated in front of Bhaluka police outpost to protest against the abduction attempt.

The kidnappers, police sources said, were from Kaliachak in the district.