Infant stolen from auto as mother is busy at shop

Mangalore Today /DHNS

Bangalore, Sept 18, 2013: A four-month-old baby boy, whose parents have not named him yet, was stolen from an autorickshaw even as his mother and maternal grandmother were buying medicines at a store at Uttarahalli Circle here on Wednesday.

The boy’s mother, Jyothi, hired an autorickshaw to reach her house after visiting a hospital. Her mother was with her. Jyothi asked the driver to halt at a store so she can buy medicines. She then went to the store, leaving her mother with the baby in the vehicle.

Moments later, she realised she had run out of money and called for her mother.

The old woman then went out of the vehicle, leaving the baby on the passenger seat. She gave Jyothi money and they came back to the autorickshaw shortly thereafter but had the shock of their life: the baby was missing.

When they demanded an explanation from the driver, he claimed he was talking on the mobile phone and had not noticed anything. He maintained he had nothing to do with the baby’s disappearance, and drove away.

Panicked, Jyothi and her mother searched the busy place for the baby but in vain. Later, they lodged a complaint at the Subramanyapura police station.

The boy’s father, G R Sudheendra, learnt about the incident only in the evening. DCP (South), H S Revanna, said the footage of the CCTV cameras at the busy traffic junction would be analysed for a clue. The driver would also be questioned, he added.