Man Arrested for Abducting Four-Year-Old Girl in Wayanad

Wayanad: Police have arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the abduction of a four-year-old girl from Mananthavady in Wayanad district. The accused, identified as Chappali Jihas of Puthusserikkadavu, was taken into custody by the Mananthavady police on Wednesday.

The incident took place on February 7 when the child was playing in the courtyard of her house in the Pulikkad area. Police said the accused took the girl on a scooter and later abandoned her nearly eight kilometres away at Tharuvana. Local residents found the child around 9 pm and alerted the police.

A case was registered immediately and an investigation was launched. Police examined CCTV cameras along the route and obtained footage showing a man travelling on a scooter with the child. Though the face was not clearly visible at first, the images were enhanced using AI-based technology. Based on technical evidence and field investigation, police identified the suspect and issued a lookout notice.

According to the police, the motive was theft of jewellery. Jihas, who works in Bengaluru, had been moving around the area on a scooter with the intention of committing theft. During the abduction, he allegedly tried to remove the child’s earrings but left her behind when she started crying.

A special investigation team tracked the accused using CCTV footage and other digital evidence. He was finally arrested at Kozhikode railway station.

The child was safely reunited with her family. Further investigation is in progress.