Ballari, Karnataka — In a swift operation, police rescued a one-and-a-half-month-old infant abducted from the district hospital in Ballari and busted a child-lifting gang allegedly behind the crime, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Ballari Superintendent of Police Shobha Rani said the accused have been identified as Shameem, her husband Ismail, and their accomplice Basha, who kidnapped the child on Friday and later sold the baby to Basavaraj Mahantappa of Toranagallu, who had been childless for 19 years.
The abduction
According to police, the baby’s mother, Sridevi of Benakallu village, had taken her newborn to the district hospital for stitch removal and a birth certificate. At the hospital, Shameem misled her, saying that the municipal office would issue the certificate. When Sridevi stepped away briefly to use the restroom, leaving the baby in Shameem’s care, the accused fled with the infant.
A distraught Sridevi immediately lodged a kidnapping complaint at Brucepete police station. The case was taken up on priority, with multiple teams deployed.
Swift rescue
By Saturday night, police tracked down the accused and recovered the child safely. The baby has since been reunited with the family.
SP Shobha Rani revealed that Basavaraj had approached Basha, a self-styled quack, after repeated failed attempts at legal adoption due to stringent regulations. The gang then plotted to abduct and sell the child.
Previous record
Police also discovered that Shameem’s mother, Zainabi, is a convict in an earlier child-lifting case, raising suspicions that the gang may be linked to more such incidents.
“We are investigating how many cases this gang may be involved in,” SP Rani said.
Legal action
All four accused have been booked under relevant sections of the IPC for kidnapping and child trafficking. Police are continuing the investigation to determine the extent of the racket.