The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Gang abducting children busted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Gang abducting children busted

P. Oppili

Kidnapped children given for adoption

CHENNAI: The Pulianthope police have busted a gang kidnapping children, and arrested five persons on Tuesday. They are on the lookout for two women members of the gang.

Police identified the arrested as Varadharajan of Otteri, Sheikh Dawood and Navjeen of Korukkupet, P.Manohar of T.P.Chatram and Sabeera of Pulianthope.

Police said Sabeera, a beggar woman, used to move around Pulianthope, Otteri and Washermanpet areas and identify children who could be kidnapped. She would then pass on the information to the other members of the gang. One of them would then visit the area and if the child was found alone, the gang member would lure the child with sweets or chocolates and take the child away to Otteri.

Admitted to hospital

Soon after abducting the child, the gang leader Varadharajan got them admitted to a private home in Ayanavaram with the help of Manohar, who acted as an agent. For each child, the gang received Rs. 10,000 from the Home. Recently a dispute arose in sharing the money among the gang members, police said.

The gang confessed to the police about kidnapping three children Fathima, Zabeen and Sathish.

Police are confident that further investigation would result in tracing more kidnapped children.

Adoption

The kidnapped children were given for adoption to childless couples by the home. Some of the children are abroad, they said.

Preliminary investigations about the home revealed that it was recognised by the State Social Welfare Department and the adoptions were done legally, police said.

During 1998 and the following year half a dozen children from residential areas in north Chennai such as Otteri, Pulianthope and Washermanpet went missing, police said.

The children were around two years of age at that time and the gang was suspected behind the kidnap, police said.

A case under section 363A (kidnapping or obtaining custody of a minor) has been filed against the gang members.

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