Mumbai crime: Malad cops rescue teen kidnapped ‘for not wearing mask’

The boy with his rescuers from Malad police on Sunday evening

Within two hours of a 13-year-old boy being kidnapped, the police arrested two men from Borivli and rescued the boy. The accused, who were tracked down in no time, allegedly committed the crime inspired by a popular television show. The two have been identified as Shekhar Vishwakarma, 35, a carpenter, and Divyanshu Vishwakarma, 21, a college student, both residents of Valnai Colony on Link Road.

The victim is a resident of Malad West and his father runs a sweet shop. He was playing cricket outside his home on Sunday evening when two men approached him. "The accused identified themselves as BMC workers and asked the boy why he was not wearing a mask. They held the nervous teen by his collar and pushed him into an auto," said a source in police. The police said the Divyanshu called the boy's father and told him that his son was being taken to the BMC office for roaming without a mask.

"Another accused Vishwakarma then called the boy's father and told him that they had kidnapped his son. The accused also demanded R10 lakh ransom. The father immediately informed the Malad police who spread the message on the wireless network." The police went to the spot from where he was taken and the other kids told them that he had been taken in an auto. With this information the police started scanning all CCTV cameras installed in the area.

A police source said, "Zone 11 Deputy Commissioner of police Vishal Thakur rushed to spot and led a team of senior inspector G Ligade, inspector Suhdir Dalvi and ACP Deepak Phatangare. "The accused repeatedly called the father for ransom and kept changing their location. With the help of mobile tower location we caught both from Kandivli West and rescued the boy."