A Form One male student of a religious school here narrowly escaped from kidnapping by three men in front of his school at about 4.15pm yesterday.

According to Kuala Muda district police chief, ACP Md Zukir Md Isa, the boy, 13, said two men grabbed and pulled him into a white van driven by another man.

"The victim managed to bite the hand of one of his captors before escaping by jumping out of the van when he realised its door was not closed tight.

"The victim who realised he was in Tikam Batu town used a public phone to contact his father for help, and was later fetched by his family members," he said.

Md Zukir said during the time he was held by the men, the victim was not threatened or hurt, but claimed they told him he would be taken to Thailand.

He said following the incident, the victim's family lodged a police report and the case was being investigated under Section 365 of the Penal Code.