Police rescue abducted 7-year-old after two-day hunt, arrest three in Chattogram

Police have rescued a seven-year-old child who was abducted while walking home from school in Chattogram's Rangunia after a two-day search, arresting three suspects — including one of the child's relatives — in what investigators say was a ransom plot.

The child was recovered unharmed during a raid on a rented house in Sarafbhata village on Wednesday morning, Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Masud Alam told reporters at a press briefing later in the day.

Police also seized the CNG-run auto-rickshaw allegedly used to abduct the nursery student.

According to investigators, the boy went missing on Monday after leaving school in South Rangunia. His father filed a case after an extensive search by family members failed to locate him.

A joint team of the District Detective Branch (DB) and South Rangunia police launched an investigation, using CCTV footage and technical surveillance to trace the child.

Police said a man driving a CNG auto-rickshaw approached the boy on his way home and falsely claimed that his father had been hospitalized and had sent him to bring the child. Trusting the story, the boy got into the vehicle and was taken to a rented house, where he was held.

The raid led to the arrest of Rakib, 22, Faysal, 32, and Jahangir Alam, 55. Police said Faysal, a cousin of the victim's father, masterminded the kidnapping.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Mohammad Belayat Hossain said investigators believe the child was abducted to extort ransom from the family. 

The suspects will be produced before a court.