BAREILLY: Police arrested two alleged child traffickers following an encounter and rescued an 18-month-old boy who had been abducted from the Manona Dham temple complex in Aonla, Bareilly.
The accused were identified as Yogesh Kannaujia, 28, and Pawan Chandel, 25, both residents of Shahjahanpur district.
According to officials, police received information that the two suspects were hiding in Fulasi village and were planning to sell the child in Delhi.
SP South Anshika Verma said a police team set up a checkpoint at Fulasi Tiraha on Tuesday.
“Two men riding a motorcycle with the child were asked to stop, but they attempted to flee. During the chase, their motorcycle skidded and they threw the infant into roadside bushes. The child was rescued safely by sub-inspector Sompal,” she said.
“The accused then opened fire at the police team. In retaliatory firing, both sustained bullet injuries in their legs and were arrested. Head constable Kaumish Kumar was also injured,” Verma added.
All three were admitted to the district hospital for treatment.
The child’s father, Raman, had filed a kidnapping complaint at Aonla police station after the boy went missing on May 24 while playing outside the temple complex with his two siblings.
Police said they recovered two country-made pistols, two empty cartridges, two live rounds and an unregistered motorcycle allegedly used in the kidnapping.
