Social activist Hishamuddin Rais was ‘kidnapped’ by several unknown individuals believed to be police officers near the site of the Kita Lawan sit-in in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

After a brief period of confusion, he was later found to be at the Dang Wangi district police station.

The dramatic incident happened near the Jalan Tun Perak-Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman intersection shortly after Hishamuddin disembarked from a taxi.

Several men on motorcycles grabbed him and tossed him into a silver coloured Honda Accord that was tailing the taxi.

About a dozen activists who saw the incident gave chase on foot, prompting the vehicles to make a hasty U-turn.

Some of the motorcyclists even went over a road divider to flee.

A pair of Hishamuddin's slippers were later found near the scene.

Minutes after incident happened, Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah was asked to confirm if Hishamuddin was arrested.

However, Zainol said he was unaware of the matter.

Several activists including Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah later visited the Dang Wangi police station nearby and were informed that Hishamuddin was held there.

Tweets from those who visited Hishamuddin claimed that one of the assailants had covered his mouth during the arrest to prevent him from shouting.

It is understood that Hishamuddin was heading to a ceramah at the Kita Lawan sit-in site in Jalan Tun Perak near Dataran Merdeka.

The site has been the base camp for the movement's "Sack the IGP" and anti-GST campaign.

A new low. @IshamRais abducted by 6 men, dragging him by d chest, one hand covering his mouth.He's now in Dang Wangi police statn #thuggery

— Nurul Izzah (@n_izzah) March 27, 2015

Disappearing people into police clutches was a hallmark of military dictatorships in South America. Malaysia's going backwards to the future

— Yin Shao Loong (@yinshaoloong) March 27, 2015