Karnit Shah, kidnapped Mumbai boy traced in Uttar Pradesh

Agencies

Mumbai, 20 April 2011: Mumbai Police Wednesday rescued a kidnapped five-year-old boy, Karnit Shah, from Allahabad district in Uttar Pradesh and brought him back to his parents here, police said.

 

Karnit, son of Anand and Alpa Shah, went missing April 6, 2011 from his Kandivli residence, prompting the police to launch a widespread search.

 

"Our informers told us of the whereabouts of the kidnappers and we traced them to Handia in Allahabad district. We raided around six places with the help of local informers to trace Karnit and his kidnappers," Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik said.

 

While welcoming Karnit back home, Patnaik said it was an emotional moment for him. He gifted Karnit a big chocolate bar and a red toy car on behalf of Mumbai Police.

 

The main accused, Sohan Singh, who runs a cake shop close to Karnit’s home, was arrested along with his associates Sameer Khan and Sandeep Warige.

 

"The main accused came to know of the raids as his local associates were picked up and tired to flee with Karnit. He was caught in the nick of time," Patnaik added.

 

Patnaik thanked Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and local police, saying that it would have been difficult to nab the kidnappers had it not been for their support.

 

"The STF and the local police extended tremendous help to our team who had gone to Kanpur to trace the boy," Patnaik told reporters after he welcomed Karnit at the Mumbai airport along with the boy’s parents and family members.

 

An elated Anand and Alpa Shah, Karnit’s parents, thanked the Mumbai and UP police for solving the case in such a short time.

 

"We were informed by police officials that they have traced a link to Uttar Pradesh and that a police team was already on its way," said Anand Shah.

 

Hareshwar Pimpale, senior inspector of Kandivli Police Station, said: "A team of officers, including women personnel, searched every house in the area. We visited every shanty and chawl and all possible places to get a clue about the boy’s whereabouts."

 

Karnit and his sister Yuti, 10, had gone down to the building compound to play cricket with their friends April 6 when he was abducted while others were busy playing.

 

"After Karnit got out, he was upset and sat in a corner. Later when Yuti couldn’t find him around, she returned home thinking that Karnit must have gone home," Anand said.

 

Anand Shah, who works with the Bombay Stock Exchange, had even used the social networking site Facebook to seek help in tracing his son.