Toddler kidnapped by father’s friend rescued from Nellore

The Avadi police acted swiftly and rescued the child within six hours and arrested the kidnapper. The accused, Shanikumar of Uttar Pradesh, was booked and remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday.

The victim, Athish Prajapati, is the son of Radhisham, who works at a private firm in Pattabiram. Radhisham, who stays with his wife Rakki Prajapati and three children at Senthamizh Nagar received a call from his friend Shanikumar, who used to work with Radhisham in Madhya Pradesh a few years ago.

When Shanikumar told Radhisham that he was struggling without a job and sought help, Radhisham had found a job for him in the same company he is employed at. Shanikumar, who reached the city two weeks ago, stayed with Radhisham’s family and went to work with him.

However, on Tuesday, Shanikumar stayed back and consumed liquor, which angered Radhisham. He is said to have yelled at him and left for work. Shanikumar, who took Athish Prajapati with him on the pretext of buying him chocolates, did not return home. Rakki tried to reach Shanikumar over the phone but in vain.

She immediately lodged a complaint at the Avadi police station and a case was registered. Around 8 pm, Shanikumar called Radhisham and told him that he has kidnapped his son and demanded Rs 5 lakh if he didn’t want his child killed.

Meanwhile, a police team led by Inspector Kaliraj traced Shanikumar to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh with the help of mobile phone towers and secured him overnight. He was brought back to the city and the child was reunited with family.