In the early hours of Sunday morning, a heart-rending incident unfolded near the iconic Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar.
A visually impaired woman, Jayanti Mallick, who has lived near the temple for the past five years and survives by seeking alms, reported that her one-and-a-half-year-old baby boy was abducted.
According to the mother, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. when an unidentified individual offered juice to the child, played with him for some time, and then disappeared into the night with the child. Unable to stop the perpetrator, Jayanti could do nothing but scream for help. The locals, moved by her plight, quickly mobilized to provide support.
The mother has lodged a complaint at the Kharavel Nagar police station, urging authorities to search for her child urgently. Police have launched an investigation, and social activists have joined in calling for swift action.
This incident has left the community shaken, casting light on the vulnerabilities faced by society’s marginalized members. The search continues, with hopes of a safe return of the baby to his mother’s embrace.