Police have launched a massive search in the Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh [Images] for the gang of dacoit Jagjeevan Parihar as they suspect the gang of holding the three-year-old son of a software company official kidnapped from Noida.

"On the suspicion that Anant Gupta might be held hostage by Jagjeevan Parihar's gang, Noida and Etawa police contacted us," Deputy Inspector General of Police (Chambal) D C Sagar said.

Police teams have fanned out for a large-scale search operation in the Chambal region, he told reporters.

After five members of Parihar's gang were killed in a shootout with Etawa police, Jagjeevan has not entered Bhind district, but teams were dispatched to jungles to trace members of the gang, Bhind's Superintendent of Police Rajababu Singh said.

Anant, son of Adobe System official Naresh Gupta, was kidnapped by two motorcycle-borne youths when he was waiting for his school bus with a maid outside his residence in Noida on November 13.

Information that Anant might be held captive by Parihar prompted police to intensify efforts to trace the gang, which had kidnapped four villagers from the district about 16 days ago, police said.

Parihar carries a reward of Rs 5.25 lakh on his head and is wanted for several cases including those of murder, abduction, extortion and dacoity in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh [Images].

The dacoit, born in Uttar Pradesh, has divided his gang of 16-20 members into two groups, and made his brother Paramjeet the head of one of them.