Labourer's One-Month-Old Baby Abducted In Ahmedabad, Rescued Within Hours; Four Held

A one-month-and-seven-day-old baby allegedly abducted while sleeping beside his labourer parents on a footpath near Ahwadia Lake in New Ranip was rescued within hours, after an intensive search by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and city police. A 21-year-old woman and two juveniles in conflict with the law have been detained, while an Uttar Pradesh-based man has also been arrested as investigators probe an alleged plan to procure the infant for ₹10 lakh.

Baby Abducted In Early Hours From Footpath

The infant was allegedly taken at around 3.15 am on October 2 while he was sleeping with his parents, who lived on the footpath and worked as labourers in bricklaying.

A case was registered at Sabarmati police station following the abduction, triggering an immediate operation involving the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch, Zone-2 and Zone-3 LCB teams and Sabarmati police.

Acting on the directions of Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, teams were deployed to locate the baby, identify the suspects and prevent them from leaving Ahmedabad.

CCTV Trail Helps Police Trace Woman

Investigators examined CCTV footage from the abduction site and routes leading away from the area. Human intelligence and technical surveillance were also used to track the suspects.

Police launched nakabandi at railway stations, bus stations and the airport, while photographs of the suspects were circulated to teams checking suspicious persons.

The investigation led police to 21-year-old Jinal Govindbhai Parmar, a Ranip resident originally from Wadhwan in Surendranagar district. She was identified through CCTV footage and arrested near Sabarmati railway station.

Police Claim ₹10 Lakh Was Offered For Infant

According to the Crime Branch, questioning of Parmar allegedly revealed that a man from Uttar Pradesh, who had previously worked with her at Zepto, had offered her ₹10 lakh to procure a child below one year of age on behalf of a person identified as Bhuvneshwar alias Bhanu.

Police suspect Parmar then involved two juveniles in the alleged plan.

Investigators said Parmar had conducted reconnaissance in New Ranip, surrounding areas and around Sola Civil Hospital. CCTV footage from the hospital area has also been collected.

Police said the accused initially went to the children's ward at Sola Civil Hospital looking for a child. After allegedly failing to find a suitable target, they turned their attention to the labourer family sleeping near Ahwadia Lake.

Infant Abandoned As Police Tighten Net

Police suspect the accused planned to hand over the infant to the person for whom he was allegedly being procured.

However, the intensive search following the abduction appears to have disrupted the plan. With checks and nakabandi across Ahmedabad, the accused allegedly became apprehensive about being caught.

Police said the suspects did not have a private vehicle and were planning to flee using public transport. The infant was allegedly abandoned in the New Ranip area as the accused attempted to escape.

The baby was subsequently recovered safely, while continued CCTV analysis and surveillance around transport hubs helped police trace Parmar near Sabarmati railway station.

Uttar Pradesh Link Emerges

The investigation then extended to Uttar Pradesh after questioning indicated the alleged involvement of people based there.

A Crime Branch team was sent to the state to trace the alleged main conspirators and those who had allegedly offered money for procuring the child.

Police said Bhuvneshwar alias Bhanu Jatav, a resident of Badaun and Noida, was arrested by the team. He is being questioned to establish the identity of the alleged intended recipient and determine the extent of the suspected network.

Police Suspect Infant Was Wanted For Childless Couple

Police Commissioner Gehlot said questioning of Bhanu and the other accused indicated that there was a specific demand for a newborn boy of around one month of age.

According to investigators, the infant was allegedly intended to be handed over to a childless couple. Police suspect the preference for a very young baby was linked to an attempt to pass the child off as the couple's biological offspring without raising suspicion.

The Crime Branch is now investigating the alleged financial arrangement involving the promised ₹10 lakh, communications between the accused and alleged handlers, the role of the two juveniles and the identity of the intended recipient.

Police are also seeking to add provisions relating to human trafficking and criminal conspiracy as the investigation progresses.