Man ‘kidnaps’ blind beggar’s toddler son in city
Bhubaneswar: A 25-year-old visually challenged woman lodged a complaint at Kharavel Nagar police station here, alleging that an unidentified man abducted her 19-month-old son early on Sunday. The alleged incident took place barely 200 metres from the police station.
Jayanti Mallick, who seeks alms near the Ram Temple, reported that while she was asleep outside the temple with her daughter, aged 4, and son, the man approached them around 3 am and offered juice to her children.
As she couldn’t see who had come, she relied on the stranger’s words when he expressed his fondness for children and claimed to have brought refreshments and sweets. Shortly afterwards, she heard her son crying.
“My daughter could not tell me anything when I asked her why her brother was crying. The man too did not respond. Despite my calls for assistance, no one was present there to help me,” Mallick said.
Police checked CCTV footage near the temple and spotted a man carrying the toddler away. According to police sources, the suspect was seen heading towards Master Canteen along Janpath. “We are trying our best to trace the child,” a senior police officer said.
Child rights activists criticised the police response. “The abductor showed audacity and kidnapped the child from outside the temple, located just 200 metres from Kharavel Nagar police station. Police must swiftly rescue the child and arrest the kidnapper,” said Benudhar Senapati, a child rights campaigner.
Jayanti Mallick, who seeks alms near the Ram Temple, reported that while she was asleep outside the temple with her daughter, aged 4, and son, the man approached them around 3 am and offered juice to her children.
As she couldn’t see who had come, she relied on the stranger’s words when he expressed his fondness for children and claimed to have brought refreshments and sweets. Shortly afterwards, she heard her son crying.
“My daughter could not tell me anything when I asked her why her brother was crying. The man too did not respond. Despite my calls for assistance, no one was present there to help me,” Mallick said.
Police checked CCTV footage near the temple and spotted a man carrying the toddler away. According to police sources, the suspect was seen heading towards Master Canteen along Janpath. “We are trying our best to trace the child,” a senior police officer said.
Child rights activists criticised the police response. “The abductor showed audacity and kidnapped the child from outside the temple, located just 200 metres from Kharavel Nagar police station. Police must swiftly rescue the child and arrest the kidnapper,” said Benudhar Senapati, a child rights campaigner.
