Hubballi: Old Hubballi police have arrested three persons on charges of kidnapping a one-and-a-half-year-old boy from Hubballi and selling him to a person in Dakshina Kannada district.

The arrested have been identified as Old Hubballi residents Davalsab Betageri (60), Anwar Byahatti (23), and Farjana Basari (28).

They allegedly kidnapped Aftab, son of Nazirsab Kolur at KEB Oni at Noorani Plot in Old Hubballi on May 8. They had sold the boy to one Adham Musaliyar of Kukkanje in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district for ` 70,000, claiming that the boy was brought from an orphanage.

Police Commissioner Pandurang Rane told media persons here on Thursday that Adham's co-brother M Abdulla was familiar with Davalsab, and he had told about the need for a baby for Adham, who had no child.

On May 8, Aftab was kidnapped from his house, when his mother Salmabanu went inside to bring water. Based on the information collected by the constables, the accused were traced, and the boy was brought from Mangaluru on Thursday early morning.

` 20,500 has also been recovered from the arrested, Mr Rane said, adding that Adham would also be considered as an accused in this case.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (South) B B Patil, Old Hubballi Police Inspector Shripad Jalde, and others were present.