Kidnapped Toddler Rescued in Bhubaneswar: A Mother's Heartbreaking Story

Toddler Abduction Case in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Authorities have successfully rescued a toddler who was abducted from his visually-impaired mother near the Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar, as confirmed by police on Tuesday.

A specialized police unit apprehended the suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation.

The incident occurred on Saturday night when the 18-month-old child was taken from in front of the Ram Mandir. His mother, Jayanti Mallik, filed a formal complaint at the Kharvel Nagar Police Station on Sunday, prompting law enforcement to initiate a kidnapping investigation.

Reports suggest that the suspect exploited Jayanti's disability to carry out the abduction.

Jayanti, who has two children—a 7-year-old daughter named Saina and her kidnapped son, Shubham—has been residing in a girls' shelter in Bhubaneswar's Niladri Vihar area. For the past five years, she has been begging near the temple. Typically, she returns to the shelter at night, but due to heavy rainfall on Sunday, she stayed at the temple with her children.

Around midnight, a man approached her and engaged with the younger child, offering him food and juice while showing him a mobile phone. He spent nearly two hours entertaining the toddler. It was only around 2 AM that Jayanti realized her son was missing and raised an alarm, seeking assistance from nearby locals and the police.

Thanks to a prompt investigation, law enforcement located and rescued the child in Balasore, successfully apprehending the suspect.