Three kidnapped Delhi kids rescued from Ludhiana

NEWDELHI: Over a week after three children went missing from a south-east Delhi neighbourhood, Delhi Police Wednesday claimed to have rescued them from Ludhiana.

The 45-year-old man, who had allegedly kidnapped the three children, including a pair of twins, has been arrested and booked under sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act besides under charges of kidnapping as per the Indian Penal Code, police said.

A senior police officer said that the man, during the one week, touched one of the children – a girl – inappropriately. He, however, had not raped her, the officer said.

An investigator said that their probe has revealed that the children, all aged 10, had insisted the man – who lived in the same neighbourhood -- to take them with him. “The three children were not very studious and wanted to visit different places. They had requested the man, who obliged them by first taking them to Pathankot and then Ludhiana,” the investigator said, adding that the accused hails from Madhubani in Bihar and has four children of his own. He had moved to Delhi in search of livelihood this July and was staying in the area with his brother.

The families of the three children – who had gone missing on December 3 – had reported the case on December 5. After receiving the complaint, police formed a team to crack the case. Police found CCTV camera footage from the area, which purportedly showed the children accompanying the accused.

Further investigation revealed the man’s identity and that he had rented a house in Ludhiana, where he was staying with the children. A police team raided the house and rescued the children on Tuesday.

“The man had befriended the children by offering them toffees and gifts during his brief stay in Delhi. So, when the children requested him to take them to another city, he took them to Pathankot and then to Ludhiana,” said an officer.

Another officer said he would work as a labourer and use the money to feed the children. “But he had also been using the opportunity to touch the girl inappropriately. He would also threaten them. We were lucky to have rescued the children before he did more harm,” said the officer.