Karnataka: Men kidnap two young children from inside home in broad daylight | VIDEO

Karnataka child kidnapping: On Wednesday afternoon, two young children were abducted from their home in Athani town, Karnataka's Belagavi district, sparking a swift police response. The siblings, four-year-old Swati Desai and three-year-old Vyam Desai, were at home with their grandmother after returning from school when unidentified individuals forcibly took them away in a Maruti Swift.

CCTV footage captures the abduction

The dramatic abduction was captured on CCTV, providing vital clues for law enforcement. As soon as the children’s grandmother alerted authorities, the police launched an intensive search operation. A case was filed at the Athani police station, and efforts to track the abductors quickly gained momentum.

Police Rrescue operation and shootout

By evening, authorities intercepted the kidnappers, leading to a tense standoff and gunfire. Belagavi Superintendent of Police confirmed that officers were forced to fire in self-defense after the suspects attacked them. “The suspects attacked the officers, and in self-defence, the police were forced to open fire, injuring one of the accused,” the SP stated. The injured suspect is receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Athani, and three individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the abduction.

Financial dispute allegedly behind abduction

According to the investigating officer, the children’s father, a real estate businessman, reportedly owed the kidnappers a significant sum of 7 crore. The suspects allegedly resorted to kidnapping as a means of pressuring him to settle the debt.

The children have since been safely reunited with their family, and further investigations into the case are underway.