Kidnapped 3-Year-Old Govandi Boy Reunited With Family Within 12 Hours Thanks to Swift Police Action and Public Help

Mumbai : In a heartwarming turn of events, a three-year-old boy who was kidnapped from his home in Govandi was safely reunited with his family within 12 hours, thanks to the swift response of Mumbai Police and the timely intervention of a kind-hearted local resident.

The incident unfolded on July 8, when the child, identified as the son of Shabbo Afsar Hashmi (26), went missing between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. while sleeping beside his aunt. Panic gripped the family when they realized he was gone, prompting the father to lodge a police complaint at the Shivajinagar Police Station around 10:26 p.m. A case of abduction was immediately registered.

With the urgency of similar past incidents in the Shivajinagar and Mankhurd areas in mind, Crime Branch Unit 6, led by Inspector Bharat Ghone, launched a high-priority search operation. Over 30 CCTV footages from surrounding areas were meticulously reviewed, and the child’s photograph was circulated extensively in nearby slum areas.

Meanwhile, around 11:00 p.m., a woman in Shivajinagar noticed a drenched and confused child wandering alone on Road No. 4. Concerned for his safety, she brought him home, dried him off, and cared for him through the rainy night. The next morning, while watching TV, she came across a news segment on the missing child and recognized him. Without delay, she contacted the number displayed by the Crime Branch.

Responding swiftly, police officers reached her home, confirmed the boy’s identity, and brought him safely to the police station, where he was reunited with his anxious family.

Assistant Police Inspector Sandeep Rahane also played a crucial role by leveraging social media to circulate the child’s image and appeal for public assistance.

Inspector Ghone commended his team and the public for their prompt response. “This case highlights how immediate action, community awareness, and compassion can change the outcome in abduction cases,” he said.

Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for the kidnapping.