A woman and her mother were arrested on Tuesday night for allegedly abducting a newborn baby from Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, police confirmed on Wednesday.
The accused have been identified as Rinki Khatun alias Rumki Khatun and her mother Minira Bibi, both residents of Uttarpara near Khagragarh in East Burdwan district.
According to the police, the incident took place when Selefah Khatun, the baby’s mother, brought her 18-day-old son to the hospital’s outdoor children’s ward for a medical check-up. Selefah and her mother were seated on the veranda of the maternity ward when a woman approached them, asking to caress the baby. Moments later, the woman snatched the infant and fled the scene.
A panicked Selefah raised an alarm, and local media outlets soon broadcasted the child abduction, prompting public attention.
It was the vigilance of local residents that led to the breakthrough. Neighbours in the Uttarpara area noticed a woman, Rinki Khatun, carrying a baby that resembled the abducted child. When they questioned her, she tried to deflect their suspicion. However, the neighbours immediately alerted Burdwan police, who rushed to the scene.
Police rescued the child from Rinki’s rented house and arrested both Rinki and Minira on charges of child theft.
A senior officer of Burdwan district police said, “Khatun tried to mislead the neighbours, but their alertness helped us recover the child safely.”
The baby was admitted to the maternity ward of Burdwan Medical College for a check-up and was later reunited with the family, bringing immense relief.
The motive behind the abduction is still under investigation, police added.
