1,600 CCTVs, 18-Hour Hunt: Thane Police Rescue Kidnapped Infant

Thane police rescued a three-month-old girl, Aafia , who was kidnapped on January 22 from Mumbra, after an intensive investigation that involved scanning over 1,600 CCTV cameras and deploying four specialised police teams . The infant was found safe in Akola , nearly 500 kilometres away, and three accused have been arrested. The case drew major attention due to the child’s age and the speed with which the accused attempted to move her out of the district.

According to police, the baby’s mother, Farjana Mansuri , was crossing the busy Khadi Machine Road carrying Aafia and her elder daughter when a burqa-clad woman offered to hold the infant and then disappeared into the crowd within moments. CCTV footage later showed the suspect meeting a man in Mumbra and even changing clothes to avoid identification. This forced investigators to rely on both technology and ground intelligence, including informant networks and physical tracking across railway stations from Mumbra to CSMT and Titwala .

Police teams worked nearly 18 hours a day , following multiple leads that initially ended in dead ends. Eventually, information led them to a suspect, Nasreen Iqlaq Sheikh, in Mumbra, though her questioning yielded limited clues. Further intelligence helped trace the trail to Haji Nagar in Akola , where Mohammad Mujeeb Gulab and his wife Doulnisa were arrested, and the infant was recovered unharmed. Authorities suspect the motive may involve illegal adoption or child trafficking , though detailed interrogation is underway to uncover the full network, if any.

The case highlights how CCTV surveillance , inter-district coordination, and swift police response can be crucial in crimes involving infants, where every hour matters. It also raises awareness about child safety in crowded public places and the continuing threat of trafficking. Officials emphasized that once rescued, the child’s welfare, legal procedures, and family reunification are handled under child protection laws, while the accused face serious criminal charges.