Delhi Police’s North District has cracked open a chilling child trafficking bid, rescuing a three-year-old girl kidnapped from Kashmere Gate and preventing her from being smuggled across the border to Nepal. The dramatic rescue unfolded after four days of relentless surveillance, human intelligence gathering, and grid searches across railway stations and city neighborhoods.
The case underscores both the vulnerability of children in crowded urban spaces and the sheer persistence of police teams who refused to let the trail go cold.
The Kidnapping
On January 12, 2026, Mujaffar Ali, a shopkeeper at Minarwa Cinema Road, Kashmere Gate, reported his daughter missing. The child, who accompanied him daily after the death of her mother, vanished around 6:30 PM. Within hours, Kashmere Gate Police registered a kidnapping case and mobilized a special team under SHO Prashant Yadav, supervised by ACP Shanker Banerjee.
The Investigation
- CCTV Breakthroughs: Footage revealed a minor girl luring the victim towards Old Delhi Railway Station, where she was handed over to her family. The suspects melted into the crowd.
- Massive Search: Nearly 100 personnel combed Old Delhi, Subzi Mandi, Shahdara, and Sahibabad stations, scanning 400 CCTV cameras and conducting grid-based searches.
- Crucial Clue: A fleeting image of the suspects in an e-rickshaw near Old Iron Bridge led police to the Welcome area.
- Human Intelligence: Overnight surveillance and discreet inquiries finally pinpointed the family near Hanuman Mandir, Yamuna Bazar.
On January 17, 2026, the child was rescued safely.
The Accused
Three adults and two minors were apprehended:
- Nazeema (52) and Anis @ Niras (52) – husband and wife, residents of Janta Mazdoor Colony, Seelampur.
- Shamshad Alam (26) – son-in-law of the couple.
- Two minors, aged 7 and 10, used in begging operations.
All hail from Kishanganj, Bihar.
Sinister MotiveDuring interrogation, the accused revealed plans to traffic the child to Nepal. Options under consideration included:
- Selling her to a childless couple.
- Handing her to a begging syndicate.
- Exploiting her for organ trafficking.
This chilling disclosure highlights the dark underbelly of trafficking networks that prey on vulnerable children.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North District) Raja Banthia, praised the “herculean efforts” of the Kashmere Gate team, reaffirming Delhi Police’s zero-tolerance policy against child trafficking and exploitation.
The child has since been reunited with her father.
