ABBOTTABAD: A 17-day-old infant kidnapped from the Women and Children Hospital was safely recovered and four suspects arrested within hours, police said on Wednesday.
Kidnapping and Investigation
District Police Officer (DPO) Haroon Rasheed Khan told a press conference that Siraj, son of Muhammad Anwar and a resident of Jhangi Syedan, filed an FIR at Cantt Police Station under Section 363 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The complainant reported that his 17-day-old son, Huzaifa, was admitted to the hospital for treatment when an unidentified woman abducted him from the nursery ward.
DPO Khan revealed that the prime suspect, Ayesha Bibi, initially took the newborn to Ayub Medical Complex, where she changed her appearance to evade detection. She then concealed the infant in a bedroll and contacted her husband, Fayyaz Ahmed, and other accomplices.
Recovery and Arrests
Police said the suspects arrived in a carry van (registration RIA-252) and transported the child to a house in Kathwal village, Gali Banian, Nawanshehr. A special investigation team, supervised by Cantt SP Ali Hamza, DSP Cantt Tahir Saleem, and SHO Cantt Ali Jadoon, traced the suspects using CCTV footage, hospital records, and modern techniques.
Police raided the Kathwal residence and safely recovered the infant. The arrested suspects are Ayesha Bibi, Fayyaz Ahmed, Hazala Bibi, and Wahab Ali, all residents of Kathwal village. The vehicle used in the crime was also impounded.
The recovered infant was reunited with his parents after legal formalities. The parents praised the police for their swift action and effective investigation, which led to the safe recovery of their son within hours.
