Baripada: Two alleged child-lifters were arrested and a four-day-old girl was rescued hours after it was stolen from PRM Medical College & Hospital in Baripada town.
Police said one of the accused women was a resident of Sahadevkhunta area in Balasore district and the other hailed from Chandua area in Mayurbhanj district.
According to reports, one Raimani Tudu had given birth to the baby at the PRM Medical College & Hospital.
On Wednesday evening, an unknown woman started speaking to Raimani and requested to hold the baby on her lap. After repeated requests, Raimani accepted and gave the baby to the woman. Meanwhile, the woman took the baby outside the ward and disappeared.
Soon, Raimani realised her baby was missing and raised a hue and cry. Her family alerted Baripada Town police.
Immediately, police formed a team of officers and civil squad members to trace the baby. After several raids, they finally managed to rescue the newborn from Bagdiha area in Mayurbhanj district. The two women were also arrested from the spot.
“We investigated the CCTV cameras installed in and around the hospital but could not trace the woman who took the baby. Following an input from a reliable source, we conducted raids in Bagdiha area and rescued the baby. We have handed over the newborn to her parents and arrested two women on charges of abducting the child,” informed the Inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Baripada Town Police Station, Birendra Senapati.
Though police suspect that the accused are part of a child-racket, the exact reason behind the abduction is yet to be ascertained.
“We are questioning them regarding their motive behind the crime and a case has been registered against them. Further investigation is underway,” added Senapati.
