In a swift operation, Mahatma Phule Chowk police rescued a six-month-old baby from the clutches of kidnappers within just twelve hours. The infant, Arbaaz Sameer Sheikh, was abducted while sleeping on the footpath near the Methodist Church on the Kalyan-Murbad road.

Ayesha Sameer Sheikh, a scavenger and the baby's mother, was sleeping alongside her child when unknown persons abducted Arbaaz in the dead of night on Saturday. Horrified to find her child missing, Ayesha immediately rushed to Mahatma Phule police station to report the incident. Superintendent of Police Shailesh Salvi, recognizing the gravity of the situation, promptly informed senior officials and formed three police teams to tackle the case.

The investigation teams swiftly scanned CCTV footage from the area and analysed Call Detail Records (CDR). This led them to Dinesh Bhaiyalal Saroj, a rickshaw puller, and Ankit Kumar Prajapati, a tailor, both residing near Jhulelal Temple in Ulhasnagar Camp No. 2. Upon thorough interrogation, both suspects confessed to the crime. The police successfully rescued the baby from their custody and reunited him with his relieved mother.

Ayesha expressed profound gratitude to the police for their quick and effective response, stating, "I never thought I would get my child back so soon." The city's police have been widely praised for their prompt action and efficient handling of the case.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Shailesh Salvi emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the child's life was in imminent danger and there was a risk of him being sold. Preliminary investigations revealed that Dinesh Saroj, a father of four, had abducted the child with the intention of practicing witchcraft. Both Dinesh and Ankit admitted to kidnapping Arbaaz for a technical ritual, and further investigations are ongoing.