A three-year-old boy, who had been kidnapped in Warangal district three months ago, was traced by the police in Jeedimetla here on Monday. Police took a woman into their custody in connection with the case.
According to the police, the boy was kidnapped by a team of kidnappers at Guduru in Warangal district and was sold to a woman for Rs 70,000.
The victim has been identified as Vikki, a resident of Guduru in Warangal district and his father as Naresh, a welder. Naresh lodged a complaint but the Warangal police failed to trace the boy.
Jeedimetla police inspector A Sanjeeva Rao said that a vernacular TV channel conducted a sting operation with the assistance of the police.
“When the TV channel aired a programme on missing boys and girls, a woman resident of Jagadgirigutta area of Jeedimetla recognised Vikki on the screen and alerted the TV channel management over the phone.
With the help of TV crew we traced Vikki to Lakshmi Bai’s residence at Jagadgirigutta in Jeedimetla police limits,’’ the inspector said.
He said Lakshmi Bai bought Vikki from one Hari for Rs 70,000. Hari was involved in the boy’s kidnapping. ``The boy is safe and is in our custody.
A team of policemen from Warangal, along with the boy’s parents, is coming here. We will hand over the boy to his parents tomorrow,’’ Sanjeeva Rao said.