Month-Long Search Ends in Andhra Pradesh Rescue

A one-year-old toddler who was abducted a month ago from a roadside in Tamil Nadu’s Ranipet district has been successfully rescued from neighboring Andhra Pradesh, police announced. The operation, executed by a special police team, brought an end to an exhaustive month-long search and resulted in the apprehension of five individuals.

The infant, named Maheswari, went missing on September 23. At the time of her disappearance, her parents—46-year-old Shekar and 23-year-old Prema—were sleeping by the roadside near Lalapet, close to the SIPCOT industrial complex in Ranipet district. The couple, who lead a nomadic lifestyle, sustain themselves by collecting discarded bottles and seeking alms.

Investigation and Arrests

According to law enforcement officials, the breakthrough in the case came after sustained interrogation and technical tracking pointed toward a network operating across state borders. Investigators allege that a local couple from Lalapet, identified as 42-year-old Boopathi and 40-year-old Kausalya, abducted the baby and subsequently handed her over to a 44-year-old woman in Andhra Pradesh named Malleshwari.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Malleshwari had been separated from her husband for approximately two decades and had no children. Investigators are currently probing whether the local couple acted out of an intention to assist Malleshwari or if financial motives were involved.

Following the leads, a special police team tracked the infant to a residential room in Andhra Pradesh, where she was recovered safely.

Inter-State Network and Ongoing Probe

In total, five suspects—identified as Santhosh, Kumar, Boopathi, Kausalya, and Malleshwari—have been taken into custody and charged in connection with the abduction.

Senior police officials stated that while the child has been safely recovered, investigators are still verifying whether monetary transactions took place during the transfer of the baby. "Whether there was a sale of the baby is not confirmed yet; it remains a key focus of our ongoing investigation," a senior investigating officer noted.

Broader Safety Concerns

The recovery comes amid heightened scrutiny regarding child safety and welfare across Tamil Nadu. Authorities continue to review security protocols and missing child reports as part of broader efforts to curb child trafficking and ensure swift inter-state coordination in criminal investigations.