Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Police have uncovered an alleged conspiracy to sell an 18-month-old girl for ₹3 lakh after she was abducted from outside the Charak Police Outpost in Lucknow’s Chowk area. The child, who was sleeping with her parents outside the outpost on the night of July 12, was later rescued near Mawaiya Fish Market in Alambagh and safely reunited with her family. Five accused have been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace another suspect. Investigators are also examining possible links to a wider human trafficking network.
According to the investigation, the child’s parents, residents of Sardar Ganj in Barabanki district who work as daily wage labourers, were sleeping in the verandah outside the police outpost when they discovered around 2:30 a.m. that their daughter was missing. A search operation was launched, leading to the child’s recovery a few hours later.
Police allege that the kidnapping was carried out as part of a plan to sell the child for ₹3 lakh. The investigation suggests that Hardoi resident Sher Singh was looking to obtain a child and allegedly contacted Shyamji Yadav, an alleged hospital operator, for assistance. Investigators claim that the two are related and had previously operated a hospital together in Para, which has since closed.
According to police, Shyamji Yadav allegedly instructed Mohammad Sultan to arrange a child. Sultan is accused of recruiting associates for the operation and allegedly promising them ₹20,000 each for their role in the kidnapping.
Investigators further allege that after abducting the toddler, the accused sent her photograph to Sher Singh through WhatsApp. However, the prospective buyer allegedly refused to take the child because she was older than expected. Following the refusal, the accused allegedly abandoned the girl near a roadside before fleeing the area.
During the investigation, police examined footage from more than 150 CCTV cameras, which helped identify and arrest five accused: Rishabh Kashyap, Mohammad Irshad, Rohit Pasi, Shyamji Yadav, and Mohammad Sultan.
Police are now investigating the case from the angle of human trafficking to determine whether the accused were involved in similar child abduction or trafficking incidents in the past. Search operations are also underway to locate Sher Singh, who is alleged to have been the intended buyer. Authorities said further legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected during the ongoing investigation.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
