Praising the coordinated efforts of multiple investigation teams and the use of technology, the Bapatla district police on Friday (July 03) announced that they had solved the sensational kidnapping of a six-month-old infant within 24 hours and reunited the child safely with his parents.Addressing a press conference at Chirala II Town Police Station on Friday, Bapatla Superintendent of Police B. Umamaheswar said the case was investigated under his direct supervision after the infant was abducted while sleeping beside his mother on a pavement in Chirala. Seven special police teams, led by Chirala DSP M.D. Moin, were formed immediately to trace the child.According to Superintendent of Police, 36-year-old Katti Subba Rao and his wife Eswaramma, residents of Inakuduru village in Machilipatnam mandal of Krishna district, earn a livelihood by collecting waste paper. They had come to Chirala four days earlier with their six-month-old son, Anji Raju, and were sleeping on the pavement outside a shop near Kothapeta Three Roads Junction. Around 5 a.m. on July 1, they discovered that the baby was missing. CCTV footage from a nearby shop showed an unidentified man carrying away the infant, following which a case was registered under Section 137(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.Police analysed every available lead, questioned witnesses and known offenders, conducted searches at railway stations and bus stands, and examined CCTV footage along the suspect's escape route. Investigators identified the motorcycle used in the crime with the help of the department's 360 CC Cams application, which proved crucial in tracking the accused.The police arrested four persons, identified as 24-year-old Dasari Sanjeev Rao, 50-year-old Dasari Srinu alias Tufan, 49-year-old Katta Adinarayana and his 40-year-old wife Katta Tirumala. Police said the couple, who were childless for nearly 25 years, allegedly conspired to procure a child by paying ₹1 lakh. Sanjeev Rao and Srinu allegedly kidnapped the infant and handed him over to the couple after receiving ₹50,000. Acting on their confession, police rescued the child from Jammulapalem village in Tanguturu mandal and restored him safely to his parents. The SP congratulated all officers and personnel involved in cracking the case. Published - July 03, 2026 04:29 pm IST