On Sunday, the Mahila Crime branch arrested one more accused from Maharashtra in child trafficking case for his involvement in kidnapping of four kids from Surat.

The accused has been identified as Betab aka Shivam Salat, a resident of Lonavala, Maharastra. During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had kidnapped four minor girls from Surat in the year 2012, 2014 and 2015. After kidnapping the girls he had brought them to his mother's house in Vatva, where the girls were tortured and forced to beg and steal in different areas of the city.

Mini Joseph, ACB of Mahila Crime branch said, "The accused used to target the beggars and poor children roaming in the city. On the pretext of selling toys in Funfair area and nearby railway station, he used to target the kids and later used kidnap them. The children were then handed over to his mother in Ahmedabad, where they were forced to beg or seal."

Earlier this year in July during a rescue operation Mahila crime branch officials arrested a couple identified as Aanadi Salat and Sampat Mudaliyar from the Vatva area for torturing and forcing children to beg and steal in different areas of the city. During the operation, 17 children, including five boys and twelve girls were rescued from their custody. Four of Aanadi's sons Unish Salat, Betab Salat, Anand Salat and a minor were booked in the case. Later the minor was also arrested by cops.

During police interrogation then, the accused claimed the children to be their grandchildren. However, the accused did not have any proof to confirm their claim. Cops suspected the accused are running a racket and the children were threatened and manipulated. So the cops decided to conduct DNA tests.

"When the DNA reports came our suspicion came true, out of the 17 rescued kids, four kids' DNA didn't match to the accused. During investigation, it was revealed that four kids were kidnapped for Surat by Anandi's son and were forced into begging and stealing in Ahmedabad." further Joseph aid.

Acting on it, a team was sent to Maharashtra and Anandi's son Betab Salat was arrested on Sunday under IPC 363 A and juvenile justice act 75,76 and 87

Till now cops have been able to arrest a total of four accused including Betab Salat, while four other accused are wanted in the case identified as Anand Salat, Unish Salat, Rajesh Salat and Kamala. Right now cops are hunting for the accused and soon they will also nabbed.

As per police officials, out of four wanted to be accused, three men are Aanadi's son only, while the Kamala is Aanadi's sister-in-law. The entire family is involved in the racket and cops suspect that more people are involved in it.

Crime Doesn’t Pay

• On the pretext of selling toys in Funfair area and nearby railway station, he used to target the kids. 
• 17 kids, including 5 boys and 12 girls were rescued in operation