In a dramatic turn of events, a two-year-old boy allegedly kidnapped from the arms of his visually impaired mother near Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar has been rescued from Balasore, while the accused has been arrested, police confirmed on Tuesday.
The heart-wrenching incident occurred late Saturday night when the mother, identified as Jayanti Mallick, who survives by seeking alms near the iconic temple, was resting with her child around 3 am. The abduction sent shockwaves through the city, drawing attention to the vulnerability of street dwellers.
Following the report, Commissionerate Police launched a high-priority investigation, tracing CCTV footage from several railway stations and leveraging intelligence from local sources. The breakthrough came when a clip showed the accused walking away with the child near Ram Mandir at 2:56 am, leading investigators to Balasore, where the child was eventually found unharmed.
The accused, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, has been brought to Bhubaneswar for questioning. While the exact motive behind the abduction remains unclear, police sources say it will be determined during further interrogation.
