CCTV Footage Cracks Tumakuru Child Kidnapping Case, Two Arrested
In a significant breakthrough, police in Sira, Tumakuru district, have successfully cracked a mysterious child kidnapping case reported on the night of February 2. The investigation was largely aided by footage from two CCTV cameras—one located near a temple and another near a bus stand. This led to the rescue of the kidnapped baby and the arrest of two individuals involved in the crime.
Details of the Arrest and Rescue
The accused have been identified as Shanta Mary, 40, a resident of Koramangala, and her relative, A Narasaiah, 35, from Midigeshi in Madhugiri. Based on a statement provided by Narasaiah during interrogation, police conducted a raid on Shanta Mary's house on Monday. During the operation, the baby was safely rescued, and Mary was taken into custody. The child was subsequently produced before the Child Welfare Committee and was happily reunited with the parents on Wednesday.
How the Kidnapping Unfolded
According to police reports, the incident began during the Magodu festive celebrations. The child, who was sitting with his grandfather—a bangle seller—went missing while watching the festivities. The grandfather had brought the child to the event to show him the festival, as the child's parents reside in Laggere, Bengaluru. A senior police officer stated, "The child went missing at night. Initially, our teams searched in the temple premises, where the celebrations were happening. By midnight, we strongly suspected that the child could have been kidnapped."
Police Investigation and Challenges
A special team from the Sira police, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police BK Shekhar and Additional Superintendent of Police ML Purushottam, immediately sprang into action. The investigation faced significant hurdles due to the large crowd present. An investigating officer explained, "One team interacted with locals, including auto drivers, shop owners, and others, asking whether they saw any persons suspiciously carrying a child, but there was no success. Another team started collecting technical details like CCTV footage and details of mobile phones gathered near the temple. That day, around 500,000 people gathered for the celebrations. It was impossible to suspect any mobile numbers initially."
Key Breakthrough from CCTV Footage
The turning point in the case came when police reviewed footage from the two CCTV cameras. The videos showed a man and a woman walking hurriedly, with the man carrying a child asleep on his shoulder, covered with a towel. This prompted police to focus on technical details of individuals present at the bus stand at that time. After two days of intensive analysis, they narrowed down the list to around 50 mobile numbers. By collecting photos of the users from service providers, police obtained a clear picture of the man. When shown to the child's grandfather, he identified the man as the same person who had befriended his grandchild earlier.
Confession and Motive
Narasaiah was traced to his residence in Midigeshi and, upon questioning, confessed to the crime. He revealed that the child was being held at Shanta Mary's house. Police then raided Mary's house and rescued the child. Further investigation uncovered the motive behind the kidnapping. Police stated, "Mary claims that she has two daughters and wanted to have a boy child. She lived alone as her husband distanced himself. When she shared her intention with Narasaiah, the latter gave the idea of stealing the child at fairs. Also, they targeted the child from an economically weaker section, thinking that its parents would not go to police or police would not take their complaint seriously."
This case highlights the critical role of surveillance technology in modern policing and serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance during large public gatherings.
