Two nomadic women, from Andhra Pradesh, were arrested at Parassala here on Monday after they allegedly attempted to kidnap a four-year-old girl from the courtyard of her home.
The Parassala police identified the women as Shanti, 52, and Sakhi Bai, 50. They tried to lure the child from the courtyard where she was playing by offering her sweets around noon on Monday, the police said.
The child’s father, Santosh Kumar, a driver, was not at home. Her mother, Leena, was inside the house.
Seeking alms
The women, who were seen seeking alms in the area before the incident, had managed to take the child out of the courtyard, by which time the child started crying.
Her mother, who rushed out, saw the women running away with the child and raised an alarm. Other residents who rushed to the spot managed to nab the women before they got away.
Police alerted
The police, alerted by the people, reached the spot and took the women into custody.
N. Jayakumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the women were allegedly attempting to take the child away, remove her gold ornaments and use her for begging in other States.
Whether the women had kidnapped children in a similar fashion was being verified. The police would also find out whether the women were part of any gang, Mr. Jayakumar said.
The accused were produced in the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court II, Neyyattinkara, and remanded in judicial custody.