In a swift inter-state operation, the Berhampur police rescued a two-year-old girl who had been kidnapped for ransom and reunited her with her distressed family within just 24 hours. The child, Anifa Patra, is the daughter of Sarat Patra and Himani Mantri. She was abducted by a close family member on October 21 while visiting MKCG Medical College in Berhampur. Police sources revealed that Vishal Baban Mohite, originally from Pune, had been accompanying the family for medical consultations. Following a drunken altercation stemming from suspicions regarding a busy phone line, Vishal left the lodge with the toddler, claiming he was taking her to buy snacks.
Hours passed without their return, and when his phone remained off, the family grew increasingly anxious. Subsequently, Vishal contacted the mother, demanding a ransom of Rs 1.5 lakh and threatening dire consequences if the police were involved. The family pursued several false leads, traveling from Brahmanigaon to Adava, only to discover that the accused had evaded capture each time. As hope dwindled and fear set in, the child’s mother bravely filed a complaint at the Bada Bazar police station on October 23. A case was registered, and a rescue operation was promptly initiated.
A police team, led by SI Priyanka Sahoo and including Ananta Narayan Nayak, Narayan Mohapatra, Anil Sahoo, and M K Samantaray, traced the accused’s movements using technical information. The pursuit spanned from Odisha to West Bengal, with the suspect frequently changing locations from Puri to Bhubaneswar, then on to Kolkata and Howrah to avoid being captured. Through effective coordination with Kolkata police, Howrah police, and eventually East Medinipur police, the suspect was finally located in East Medinipur district. The child was rescued safely from his custody and returned to her family, while the accused was arrested and brought to court. The family expressed profound gratitude to the Berhampur police for their unwavering dedication and emotional support throughout the crisis.
This operation has been commended as a remarkable demonstration of prompt police coordination, technical skill, and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the vulnerable.