Five-year-old rescued; one held for kidnapping

Police have rescued a five-year-old boy and arrested a man who had allegedly kidnapped him in the western suburb of Sakinaka here.

Akram Khan (19), a juice-seller, has been arrested in the case, said senior inspector Kishor Sawant of Sakinaka police station.

According to police, Khan, who knew the boy's family, visited them yesterday afternoon.

He asked the boy's mother to make tea, and asked the boy to go out and buy biscuits.

When the boy stepped out of the house, Khan's girlfriend, who is 16 years old, allegedly abducted him.

As the boy did not return, the family started searching for him in the neighbourhood. Khan told the family that he will search for the child in another area and left the house.

 

In the afternoon, the boy's father Shakir Ali Suleman Shaikh received a call from an unidentified person who demanded a ransom of Rs 1 lakh to release him.

Police tracked down the location of the caller and traced it to Khan who was in Jarimari area of Sakinaka. He was arrested.

Khan revealed that the boy was with his girlfriend, following which the child was rescued immediately, inspector Sawant said.

Khan's girlfriend, being a minor, was apprehended under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Khan allegedly told police that he hatched the kidnapping plan as he had to repay a loan and needed money.

Further probe is underway, the police officer said.