Delhi Police have successfully rescued a three-year-old girl who was kidnapped last week near her father's shop in the Kashmere Gate area of Old Delhi. Officers arrested three members of a family in connection with the crime. The police also saved two other minor children, aged seven and ten, who were allegedly forced into begging by the accused.
Family Members Arrested in Kidnapping Plot
The arrested individuals have been identified as Nazeema, 52, her husband Anis, 52, and their son-in-law Shamshad Alam, 26. All three are residents of Seelampur in East Delhi and originally hail from Kishanganj in Bihar. Police investigations revealed that they allegedly planned to traffic the toddler to Nepal. This plan was foiled due to persistent surveillance and ground operations by law enforcement.
How the Kidnapping Unfolded
The child went missing on January 12 from Minerva Cinema Road, where her father, Mujaffar Ali, runs a shop. Ali, a resident of Sunder Nagari, had been bringing his daughter to work after his wife passed away a few months earlier. Around 6:30 PM, Ali reported that the child disappeared from near the shop. He immediately filed a kidnapping case at the Kashmere Gate police station.
During questioning, the accused allegedly told police they kidnapped the child after spotting her alone near the railway station. They considered selling her either to a childless couple or to a begging syndicate.
Police Investigation and Rescue Operation
Deputy Commissioner of Police North, Raja Banthia, stated that the police team began an intensive analysis of CCTV footage from the area. Footage showed that the toddler was lured away by another minor girl, aged about six to seven years, towards the Old Delhi Railway Station. Further scrutiny revealed that this minor handed over the victim to the accused, who then disappeared into the heavy crowd at the station.
With no immediate leads, police expanded their search. They deployed teams consisting of approximately 100 personnel across Old Delhi Railway Station and nearby stations, including Subzi Mandi, Shahdara, and Sahibabad. Officers scanned feeds from around 400 CCTV cameras installed at railway premises and along surrounding roads.
Breakthrough in the Case
A crucial breakthrough occurred when the suspects were briefly spotted in footage traveling in an e-rickshaw from the Old Iron Bridge side. Teams tracked their suspected movement over a 12-kilometer stretch and conducted discreet local inquiries in the Welcome area. Police deployed officers overnight to gather human intelligence.
On Saturday, the child was traced near Hanuman Mandir in Yamuna Bazar and rescued. She has since been reunited with her family. The operation not only saved the kidnapped toddler but also led to the rescue of two other minors who were being exploited for begging.
This case highlights the diligent efforts of Delhi Police in combating child kidnapping and trafficking. The use of technology, combined with traditional investigative methods, played a key role in ensuring a safe outcome.
