Thane Crime Branch arrests two, detains 11-year-old boy
The Thane Police Crime Branch on Thursday rescued a two-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped near Thane railway station last month. The police have arrested two accused while detaining an 11-year-old boy in connection with the offence.
According to Thane Crime Branch officers, the girl, Prajakta Narawade, lived with her older brother and mother, a daily wage worker, in an open space near the railway station. On September 26, Prajakta’s mother woke up in the early hours to find her missing. After searching for her in vain, she registered a case of kidnapping with the Kopri police and the Central Unit of the Crime Branch was instructed to investigate the matter.
“We checked closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of the spot from where Prajakta was kidnapped and saw a young boy picking her up and walking away. We traced his movements through the CCTV feed and saw him joining a woman a short distance away. Their way of dressing indicated that they could be from the Pardhi tribe, and we started enquiries among members of the tribe for further leads,” a Crime Branch officer said.
After sustained enquiries, the investigating team learnt the identity of the kidnappers and accordingly left for Parbhani, where they are based.
On Thursday, the police picked up Anita Bhosale (30), and her questioning led the police to Seema Powar (35) and her 11-year-old son, who had executed the kidnapping. The police rescued Prajakta, who was being held by Ms. Powar, and all of them were brought to Mumbai on Friday morning. Ms. Bhosale and Ms. Powar were arrested, while the 11-year-old boy was detained.
“The women are involved in begging rackets in Parbhani and we suspect that they intended to use Prajatka for the same purpose. Enquiries are under way to ascertain whether they have kidnapped other children in the past,” the officer said.
Ms. Bhosale and Ms. Powar were subsequently handed over to the Kopri police for further enquiries, while the 11-year-old boy has been sent to the juvenile detention centre in Bhiwandi, officers said.