Police have rescued a seven-year-old child who was abducted while returning from school in Chattogram's Rangunia, arresting three individuals, including the victim's cousin, in connection with the incident.

A CNG-run auto-rickshaw used in the abduction was also seized during the drive.

The Chattogram District Police disclosed the information in a press release today (22 July).

According to police, Wasifa Jannat Taskin, a nursery student at Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (R) School in West Sharaf Bhata under South Rangunia Police Station, went to school as usual on Monday (20 July) but did not return home after classes.

Investigators said a man posing as a CNG auto-rickshaw driver told the child her father had been hospitalised and had sent him to bring her. Believing him, she got into the vehicle and was abducted.

Following the incident, the victim's father, Delowar Hossain, filed a case with South Rangunia Police Station against four to five unidentified people.

On the superintendent of police's instruction, the district Detective Branch (DB), along with South Rangunia Police Station, launched a rescue operation.

Using information technology, CCTV footage, and intelligence inputs, police arrested Md Rakib, 22, Md Faisal, 32, and Md Jahangir Alam, 55, rescuing the child unharmed from their custody and seizing the CNG auto-rickshaw used in the abduction.

During preliminary interrogation, police said the suspects confessed that Faisal, the victim's maternal cousin, masterminded the abduction to extort a large ransom from the child's father. He allegedly recruited two CNG drivers and promised them a share of the ransom.

The three accused have been produced before a court, while the investigation is ongoing, police said.