By Cameron Houston, Liam Mannix and Nino Bucci
Dead toddler Sanaya Sahib grew up in an environment of dysfunction and violence, according to neighbours and other sources close to the family.
In the past week, the 15-month-old was in close contact with two men facing serious criminal charges.
One of the men is charged with serious family violence offences, including assault with a weapon. Neither man can be identified for legal reasons.
And it has emerged that Darebin councillors were strongly advised during a briefing with Victoria Police on Monday night not to comment about whether CCTV in the park where Sanaya was reportedly abducted was operational, for fears it could jeopardise the investigation.
Sanaya Sahib's uncle, Habib Ali , speaks to media on Monday.Credit: Jason South
While police in Melbourne are hunting for a man matching the description given by Sanaya's mother, Sofina Nikat, homicide detectives are also expected to examine links between the men, who were close to the family, and the toddler's death.
Ms Nikat was taken to a safe house on Sunday afternoon and is understood to have been instructed not to make contact with the relatives whose house she had been staying at in Perth Street, Heidelberg West.
It is not known if police have questioned the child's father, Sameer Sahib, who was estranged from Ms Nikat after the relationship ended acrimoniously. A relative said Mr Sahib was not in a position to talk.
It is understood that homicide detectives have not spoken with Ms Nikat or her relative, Habib Ali, who owns the Perth Street house.
A CCTV camera near a footbridge over the creek where Sanaya Sahib's body was found.Credit: Liam Mannix
Ms Nikat, 22, said her daughter was snatched from her pram by a stranger as they were walking in Olympic Park about 10am on Saturday.
They had been staying at Mr Ali's home, which is less than two kilometres from where the child's body was discovered.
Tributes are left where the body of 15-month-old Sanaya Sahib was found in nearby Darebin Creek.Credit: JasonSouth
The property was searched by forensic investigators on Sunday afternoon.
Homicide detectives have refused to reveal if CCTV cameras captured the final moments of the 15-month-old's life.
A man looks on to the street full of waiting media from his Heidelberg West home.Credit: Jason South
Footage could have corroborated her mother's account that the toddler was abducted by a stranger.
There are several cameras in the area where the toddler's body was discovered at 2.45am on Sunday, about 10 kilometres north-east of the city centre.
Sanaya Sahib's body was found in Darebin Creek last year.
But a Victoria Police spokeswoman refused to make any comment, while a representative of Darebin Council also refused to confirm if the cameras had been operational over the weekend.
It is understood councillors - including those on a panel which has been overseeing the installation of the CCTV - were told by police in strict terms not to comment on the status of the cameras.
While CCTV had been installed for months, it is believed council was working through the considerable "red tape" that must be addressed regarding privacy, storage of footage, and costs.
It is unclear whether this work had been completed, but minutes from an October 5 council meeting suggest they were not operational at that time.
The cameras were installed under the Northland Precinct Action Plan under a partnership between shopping centre management, council and Victoria Police.
Council listed the operation of the cameras as a priority for completion before July, but it is believed they have not been discussed at any subsequent council meeting.
It is therefore unclear whether "governance documents," which had to be finalised before the system could be operated, have been completed.
"The [CCTV] project aims to increase perceptions of safety and reduce crime," the October 5 minutes state.
"The location has been chosen due to its isolation, low perceptions of safety, its use as an access route pre and post offending and its potential as a vibrant community space."
On Monday, Mr Ali warned residents in the Heidelberg community to be vigilant.
Mr Ali also thanked the family that found Sanaya's body in Darebin Creek, to the rear of Northlands Shopping Centre, in the early hours of Sunday.
Speaking to the media outside his home, Mr Ali said: "I would like to tell the neighbours around this area to be very, very careful, especially with the kids – don't go out in parks alone or at night or in the morning. Just be very, very careful".
Mr Ali said he wanted the person responsible for his niece's death to be caught as soon as possible.
"I appreciate what police are doing, they're doing a very great job and I'm pretty sure they'll come to a quick conclusion and justice will be served," he said.
"It's very frustrating and whoever is out there, whoever has done it, I hope that he is caught as soon as possible and dealt with.
"Whatever happened shouldn't have happened, she didn't deserve it. She's such a cute little kid, she was so attached to me. I don't know why this happened. Whoever done it, shame on him, he is a coward."