Ranchi, Jan 14 (IANS) The Jharkhand Police have safely rescued two siblings — four-year-old Ansh and five-year-old Anshika — who were abducted from the Dhurwa police station area of Ranchi 12 days ago, officials said on Wednesday.

Two accused have been arrested in connection with the case, the officials added.

The children were recovered from the Chitarpur area of Ramgarh district following an intensive search operation. Their disappearance had triggered widespread public anger and protests across the city.

According to police, the siblings had left their home near Mausi Bari Khatal in Dhurwa around 3 p.m. on January 2 to buy groceries from a nearby shop, but did not return. After an extensive search failed to trace them, the family lodged a missing persons complaint at the Dhurwa police station on January 3.

Given the seriousness of the case, a 40-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted under the supervision of SSP Rakesh Ranjan. The police scrutinised more than 5,000 mobile numbers using technical and human intelligence and analysed footage from around 2,000 CCTV cameras across Ranchi and nearby areas.

A poster campaign was launched with the support of voluntary organisations, and a reward of Rs 4 lakh was announced for information leading to the children’s recovery. Several political parties and social organisations staged protests, while the Dhurwa sub-town observed a bandh on Sunday.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also took cognisance of the matter and sought a report from the Jharkhand Director General of Police.

Police said crucial leads eventually led the SIT to Chitarpur, where the children were rescued safely. Preliminary investigations indicate that the siblings were abducted by members of a nomadic Gulgulia gang.

The police confirmed that both children are in good health, and the process of handing them over to their family is underway.

Interrogation of the arrested accused is continuing to ascertain the motive behind the abduction and to identify other members of the network.

Jharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra will reveal more details about the abduction and successful rescue of the children at a press conference.

–IANS

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