In a swift action, cops on Thursday rescued a kidnapped in three hours and also arrested the woman who took away the baby from a couple in Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital (TGMCH).
Police said, Anis Fathima (20), wife of Sivan Perumal of Udangudi, delivered a baby boy seven months ago at TGMCH. As Fathima suffered stomach pain frequently she visited the TGMCH for treatment.
On Thursday, Anis and Sivan Perumal, who came to the hospital, was waiting with the baby, Muthuramalingam, awaiting their turn to meet the doctor. At this point, a young woman started talking to the couple. Meanwhile Anis Fathima was called in for examination.
Utilising the situation, the woman told Sivan Perumal that her wife asked him to collect the outpatient token. Believing this Sivan Perumal handed over the baby to the w oman and went to collect the token. On his return, he found both the woman and the baby missing. The couple then lodged a complaint with the South Police.
Cops immediately alerted all the check posts and conducted a vehicle check. In the meantime, they received information that a baby was found abandoned in Pudukottai near here.
Subsequently, they rushed to the spot and recovered the baby. After confirming that the baby belonged to Anis Fathima and Sivan Perumal, they handed it over to them.
After inquiries, cops found out that the woman, who kidnapped the infant, was Maheswari (19) wife of Petchimuthu of Thoothukudi and arrested her.