Mahalaxmi child kidnappers may have struck earlier

The Tardeo police are checking if the four people arrested on Saturday for kidnapping Altaf Sheikh, a 9-month-old boy from Mahalaxmi, was also involved in the kidnap of a 10-month-old from Haji Ali last year, reports Rachna Pratihar.

The Tardeo police are checking if the four people arrested on Saturday for kidnapping Altaf Sheikh, a 9-month-old boy from Mahalaxmi, was also involved in the kidnap of a 10-month-old from Haji Ali last year.

On October 24, domestic help Dilshan Sheikh (40), her son Mohammed (20), brother Majid Sheikh (30) and a sweet shop owner from Andhra Pradesh, Kadar Ali Sheikh (40), were arrested for Altaf’s kidnap.

Altaf was abducted when he was asleep with his mother, Parveen (28), on a pavement at VP Nagar near Nehru Planetarium at Mahalaxmi.

Kadar claimed he bought Altaf for Rs 2,000 from the other three accused as he was childless for 14 years. “We find it hard to believe him, since Rs 2,000 is a small amount. Also, he has been behaving suspiciously,” said Police Inspector Mohan Waghmare.

“We are checking whether Kadar and the other three were running a child trafficking racket. On December 14 2008, a woman at Haji Ali had kidnapped a 10-month-old boy. We’re checking if Dilshan was part of that,” said Waghmare.

Investigations revealed that Dilshan had initially made up a story that a woman called Haseena had taken the baby and fled in a taxi. After sustained interrogation, she confessed to her role in the kidnap.

“The four planned the kidnapping last month. Dilshan handed over the baby to Mohammed and Majid, who sold him to Kadar, when he came to Mumbai on the night of the incident,’ said Waghmare.

The police said a deal had been struck between Dilshan and Kadar, the latter promising to arrange a job for Mohammed in Dubai after he got the child. Altaf is now at Dongri Children’s Home and will be handed over to Parveen at the Child Welfare Committee’s direction .