Three-year-old boy rescued from trafficking in Andhra Pradesh

A three-year-old boy was rescued by police in Hardoi after being kidnapped and sold for five lakh rupees. The child was taken from a wedding in Sitapur on February 10. Two men, Abhay Verma and Umashankar, were identified as the kidnappers. The boy was sold to a family in Andhra Pradesh by a woman named Sonia, based in Delhi. Police arrested Verma, Umashankar, and Sonia in Delhi as part of a child trafficking investigation. Their questioning led authorities to two more women in Andhra Pradesh connected to the case. These women, Mumtaz and Vikol Bijali, were arrested in Andhra after confessions revealed the child's location. The boy was safely returned to his parents in Hardoi. Police are now looking for Sharda, who is believed to be the leader of the trafficking group. Authorities noted that traffickers often target vulnerable families. In this case, the buyer had two daughters and wanted a son. He had sold one daughter to finance the purchase of the boy. The suspects will face court, and police are continuing to investigate for more people involved in the trafficking operation.