Mother fears daughter was snatched from street

Nikita Bhai

Mandakini Bhai wants to break down and cry every time she passes her daughter Nikita's room.

The Sandringham woman has not seen her 22-year-old daughter since Friday afternoon and fears someone may have snatched her off the street.

Nikita, who is suffering from depression, went missing about 1.30pm after an argument with her brother Akshay, who had just returned home from studying in Dunedin.

She left the house barefoot and without her anti-depressant medication, which she has been taking since last year.

Akshay Bhai said he didn't think anything of his sister leaving the house, because she had done so several times before when angry, but would always return home after cooling down. This time was different.

By mid-afternoon, as the weather deteriorated, Mrs Bhai and her son searched the garage, without success.

By 9pm, as the cold, blustery weather worsened, they rang the police but were told to call back on Saturday morning if she had not returned.

Since then the family have contacted Nikita's friends, spoken to neighbours and gone door to door with pictures, but no one has seen her.

Mrs Bhai doesn't think her daughter is hiding because she has no money with her and has not kept in touch with friends since becoming ill last year.

She believes someone has taken her daughter from the street. This fear is fuelled by the knowledge that a man who tried to abduct two young women in Western Springs on the same day Nikita vanished has not yet been caught.

"When I pass her room I feel like [having] a big cry. When I go to sleep tonight I think 'Oh, what happened to her'. If someone grabbed her are they going to use and kill her?"

Mr Bhai said his sister may not know where she is and, without her medication, may not be making sense. He joined his mother in a plea for anyone with information to contact the police.

Sergeant Matt Srhoj said the bad weather at the weekend, combined with the fact that Nikita did not have her medication, were enough to have police concerned for her safety.

They want to hear from anyone who has seen her in the past few days.


NIKITA BHAI

Last seen: Friday afternoon, leaving her Sandringham Rd home.

Dressed in: Old pink T-shirt and blue cargo pants. No shoes, jacket, money or cellphone.

Description: 22-year-old Indian woman. About 163cm tall, dark hair with some blonde streaks, solid build, brown eyes and a large mole on her upper lip.