Ballari, Karnataka — In a shocking incident, a one-and-a-half-month-old infant was kidnapped under the guise of helping the mother obtain a birth certificate. The Ballari police swiftly cracked the case within 24 hours, arresting four accused: Shameem, Ismail, Basha, and Basavaraj.
Sridevi from Benakal village had given birth on July 28 and visited the district hospital last Friday to secure her baby’s birth certificate. At the hospital, she met Shameem, who offered to help and accompanied her to the municipal office. During this visit, Sridevi’s mother briefly left, and Shameem fled with the infant.
The police investigation revealed that Shameem handed the baby to her husband Ismail, who, along with cleric Basha, sold the child to a childless couple, Basavaraj and his wife. Basavaraj had reportedly expressed a desire to adopt or purchase a baby, motivating the crime.
Thanks to CCTV footage and rapid police response, the infant was safely rescued within a day and reunited with his mother. Police further disclosed that Shameem had a prior kidnapping conviction from 2013 and suspect ongoing family involvement in child trafficking.
The case is under further investigation.
