An alert autorickshaw driver helped the police nab a woman who stole a baby from its mother at the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital on Wednesday.
Police said that Suraya Sultana (32) of Perambur was desperate for a baby since she had lied to her husband Rafiq, employed in Dubai, that she was pregnant when he last visited her 10 months ago. Her desperate search led her to the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital where Yasmin Begum, also of Perambur, had brought her baby for a consultation as it was under-weight. She was accompanied by her elder sister, Aktarine Begum.
Aktarine asked her sister to wait till she came back with the form to obtain maternity assistance. Sultana, who was observing them, approached Yasmin and said that Aktarine was looking for her. She offered to baby-sit till she came back. Believing her words, Yasmin gave the baby to Sultana and walked into the maternity section. When the sisters met inside, Aktarine was shocked to see her. Sensing trouble, they rushed out and found that the woman was missing with the baby.
Their enquiries at the auto stand outside revealed that the woman had hired an auto. The other drivers there soon called up Senthil Nathan, who was ferrying the accused. Nathan, who was near the Chintadripet Police Station, drove the woman straight into the station. She was arrested and the baby reunited with the mother.