Berhampur: A two-year-old girl, abducted by a relative for ransom from Odisha’s Berhampur on Thursday, was safely rescued from West Bengal through an inter-state operation and reunited with her parents on Sunday.
Baidyanathpur police also nabbed the accused, identified as Vishal Baban Mohite (28), originally from Pune in Maharashtra but residing in Bramhanigaon in Kandhamal district. He is the brother-in-law of the girl’s mother, Himani Mantri.
According to police sources, Himani Mantri from Brahmanigaon in Kandhamal visited MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur on October 21 for a check-up with her daughter Anifa, husband Sarat Patra, sister Dibani Mantri, and brother-in-law Vishal. After tests, they stayed at a lodge in Kamapalli. Vishal argued with Dibani over a phone call but later reconciled. He then took Anifa to buy snacks but didn’t return, claiming over the phone he had gone to Brahmanigaon with her.
The family returned to Brahmanigaon but couldn’t find Vishal or Anifa. When contacted, Vishal said he was in Adava. Himani and Sarat went to Adava but found no trace of him. Vishal then demanded Rs 1.5 lakh to return Anifa.
On October 23, the couple filed an FIR with Baidyanathpur police, who then traced Vishal’s phone to Puri and then learnt that he had boarded a train to Kolkata. Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M coordinated with Kolkata police, and with mobile tracking, Vishal was apprehended in Purba Medinipur, and Anifa was rescued.
On Sunday, the girl was handed over to her family, and Vishal was produced in court.