In a significant breakthrough, the Hapur police on Tuesday dismantled a sinister gang accused of kidnapping young children from public spaces and supplying them to childless couples for money. The operation led to the arrest of two individuals, including a woman, and the safe recovery of a recently abducted three-year-old boy.
How the Kidnapping Ring Operated
According to police officials, the arrested accused have been identified as Barkha Devi (28), a resident of Bulandshahr, and Shiva Kumar (24) from Hapur. The duo allegedly targeted vulnerable, homeless, or unattended children in busy areas. Their modus operandi involved luring the children under false pretenses before abducting them.
"The accused lured the child on the pretext of buying him warm clothes and were planning to sell him," revealed ASP Vineet Bhatnagar, detailing the specific case that led to their capture. The gang operated with the intent to sell these children to prospective buyers, primarily couples without children, in exchange for financial gain.
The Rescue Operation and CCTV Evidence
The latest incident that exposed the gang's activities occurred on Friday in a busy market area of Hapur. A three-year-old boy was abducted, an act that was fortuitously captured on CCTV footage. The video clearly showed a man and a woman taking the child away on a motorcycle, providing crucial evidence for the police.
"Based on surveillance inputs and local intelligence, the accused were identified and arrested," stated ASP Bhatnagar. Following their identification, a swift police operation was launched, culminating in the arrests on Tuesday. The police successfully traced and safely reunited the kidnapped boy with his family.
Family Background and Ongoing Investigation
The mother of the rescued child, Haseena, originally from Kasganj district, informed the police that she has been living in a slum on Bulandshahr Road in Hapur for several years. She survives by begging around Tehsil Chowk along with her two sons, Mohabbat and Harun.
While the immediate threat has been neutralized with these arrests, the police investigation is far from over. Authorities have stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused were involved in similar child kidnapping incidents in the past. The probe aims to uncover the full extent of their network and identify any other victims or accomplices.
