Pune: The city's Bharati Vidyapeeth police busted a gang that kidnapped a two-year-old girl from the Katraj area for begging, police said on Wednesday.
The police rescued the child from Tuljapur in Dharashiv district and arrested five members of the gang, including a woman. The accused have been identified as Sunil Sitaram Bhosale (51), Shankar Ujanya Pawar (50), Shalubai Prakash Kale (45), Ganesh Babu Pawar (35) and Mangal Harphul Kale (19). They are residents of Motizara, Tuljapur, in the city.
The complainant, Dhansing Hanumant Kale (25), lives with his family in a slum area in the Wonder City area of Katraj. The toddler was kidnapped from her cradle, while the family was asleep.
Upon realizing the child was missing at midnight, the family lodged a complaint at the Bharati Vidyapeeth police station. Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar ordered an urgent search for the missing child.
Under the guidance of senior police inspector Rahul Khilare, two investigation teams were formed, and an additional team from the crime branch was also assigned. During the investigation, CCTV footage of 140 cameras as well as Wonder City area was reviewed.
Three individuals were seen riding a two-wheeler with the child. Two more suspects were identified in footage from the railway station.
“Based on the CCTV footage and other information, the investigation team traveled to Tuljapur. With the help of local police, three suspects were initially taken into custody, and the kidnapped child was safely rescued from them. Further interrogation led to the arrest of the remaining two accused,” said police.
