India, Nov. 26 -- The police have arrested five people, including the 5-year-old victim's maternal uncle and aunt, for allegedly kidnapping the young girl from Santacruz East and selling her in Panvel for Rs.1.8 lakh.

Around 12:30 pm on Saturday, the child's mother approached the Vakola police, reporting that her daughter had been kidnapped. Based on her complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Given the seriousness of the offence, seven police teams under Zone 8's crime detection officer were formed. For two days, the police scanned CCTV footage of the area, and followed confidential tip-offs, before eventually identifying a ...