4-year-old abducted from OGH, rescued by cops within 12 hrs

Hyderabad: A couple's quarrel almost cost them their four-year-old boy on Monday evening. Kidnapped from Osmania General Hospital (OGH) by a vagrant, the child was luckily united with the parents within 12 hours by cops who tracked down the kidnapper by scouring through over 100 CCTV cameras spread across 20 km from the hospital to Dabeerpura railway station. The accused, Shaik Rafeeq, a daily wager, was caught carrying the boy, Mohd Shoheb, by Afzal Gunj cops as he was about to board a train on Tuesday. Police said on Monday morning Shoheb's parents Mohd Saddam and Rubeena had a quarrel over his drinking issues. Saddam, a carpenter, had even attempted suicide a few months ago. The family lives in Mallepally. Soon after the quarrel, Saddam left home in a huff with the child after telling Rubeena that he was going to OGH. But when he didn't return till evening, Rubeena went to the hospital and found Saddam sleeping. But there was no sign of their son. They finally filed a police complaint around 10pm. Analysis of hospital CCTV cameras showed an unidentified man carrying the boy. He was tracked to MJ Market, Boggulkunta, Kacheguda railway station and Dabeerpura railway station. DCP (East Zone) B Balaswamy said that after crossing MJ Market the accused was seen begging by showing the child. He walked up to Dabeerpura station where he was finally arrested.Police said Rafeeq was from Warangal and had come to the city a few years ago. He lived on footpaths and had abducted the boy to make an easy living by begging, police said. He has been remanded to judicial custody.
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