8-year-old saves her sister from being kidnapped in Mumbai

An eight-year-old girl averted the kidnapping of her three-year-old sister, who was picked up by a beggar woman from the living room of their grandmother's house in Nagpada on Sunday. The accused was nabbed and handed over to the JJ Marg police.

The accused, Salina Abdul Shaikh (50), resides on the footpath outside Noor Masjid in Reay Road.

Saira Shaikh (47), the grandmother of the victim, stays on the third-floor flat of a building in Nagpada. The victim lives with her parents in Surti Mohalla in the jurisdiction of JJ Marg police.

On Sunday, Saira Shaikh's daughter and her four children, who live in Byculla, came to spend the Sunday with her. According to the police, around, 11.30am, Salina went to Saira's house seeking alms. She gave her a rupee and went inside with her daughter, leaving the four children in the living room. After they had gone, Salina came back and picked up the victim and fled the scene.

"The victim's eight-year-old sister, who noticed what was happening, rushed inside and informed her mother. The two women then ran after the beggar woman and raised an alarm. Salina was nabbed with the help of the neighbours before she could go too far. Saira then brought her to the JJ Marg police station. Salina was booked for kidnapping and arrested," said a police officer.

"Had is not been for the victim's sister, Salina would have kidnapped the girl," he added.

Salina was produced in the court on Monday and remanded in police custody. The police are now investigating whether Salina is involved in some other kidnapping and whether she is part of some gang.