Woman, daughterunder scanner after boy's skeleton found in

Police in Ankleshwar town of Gujarat have arrested a 40-year-old woman and her daughter on the suspicion that they could be involved in the abduction of children from various parts of the state.

Rashida Patel and her daughter Mohsina (19) were arrested in a fresh case after the discovery of skeletal remains of Vikki Devipujak (7) from the backyard of their house in Ankleshwar town in Bharuch district yesterday.

The boy had gone missing from his house in Gurudwara area of the town in March 2016.

Inspector J G Amin of Ankleshwar police said the remains have been sent to a forensic laboratory to ascertain the cause of death. Rashida told police that the boy died after drinking a pesticide, he said.

Police earlier arrested Rashida and Mohsina on March 17 this year for allegedly abducting another seven-year-old boy from Ankleshwar on November 17, 2017.

This boy, however, managed to escape and returned home on March 16. Based on the information he provided, police nabbed Rashida and her daughter.

Rashida, whose son had died in infancy many years ago, allegedly wanted a son who could look after her in her old age, police said.

Her and her daughter's interrogation led to the recovery of Vikki's remains from the backyard of Rashida's house, leading to suspicion that they could be behind the disappearance of more children, police said.

They have been remanded in fresh police custody till tomorrow.