3-year-old kidnapped from Delhi hospital found 1,000 km away in Bihar

A three-year-old boy who was allegedly kidnapped from a government hospital in west Delhi has been safely rescued from Bihar's Munger district, more than 1,000 km away, after police tracked the accused woman using CCTV footage and technical surveillance.

The child went missing on August 27 while he was playing near his mother at the hospital. His mother had reportedly gone to collect medicines when the boy was allegedly taken away. A case was registered at Khyala police station after a PCR call was received around noon.

During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from the hospital and surrounding areas. The footage allegedly showed a woman carrying the child away. Police identified her as 31-year-old Chunari Devi, a native of Bihar's Banka district who was temporarily living in Madipur.

Investigators followed her movements through several CCTV cameras. According to police, the footage showed Devi travelling towards Madipur village in an e-rickshaw with the child. Local inquiries later indicated that she had left Delhi and travelled towards Bihar.

Using technical surveillance and local intelligence, a police team traced her to Asnaha village in Munger district. The child was recovered safely and Devi was also located and brought into the investigation.

During questioning, police said Devi allegedly told them that she had six daughters and was unable to have another child because of medical complications. She allegedly kidnapped the boy with the intention of raising him as her own son.

The rescued child was subsequently brought back to Delhi and reunited with his family.

The case has highlighted the importance of CCTV surveillance and coordinated police action in tracing missing children across state borders.

The incident comes shortly after another child kidnapping case in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. Last month, a three-month-old boy was allegedly kidnapped from his home in Ghaziabad's Sahibabad. Police later rescued the infant and arrested seven people allegedly linked to a child-selling racket.

In that case, investigators said the baby had been passed between several people and was allegedly intended to be sold to a couple in Haryana for ₹5-6 lakh. CCTV footage and surveillance helped police trace the suspects and rescue the child.

Police are continuing their investigation into the Delhi case and the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping.