HYDERABAD: An interstate child-selling racket operating in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has been dismantled with the arrest of 11 individuals. These suspects allegedly sold infants for prices ranging between Rs 1.80 lakh and Rs 5.50 lakh, according to the police.
The Rachakonda Police launched the investigation based on tips that a syndicate was trafficking infants from various locations, including Delhi and Pune, to be sold in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh to childless couples. The police have successfully rescued 13 infants so far.
Details of the Operation:
- Initial Arrests: Acting on specific information, the police initially arrested three individuals on May 22. Following their confessions, eight more suspects were apprehended on May 27.
- Rescue Operation: The police, in coordination with the Child Welfare Committee, rescued 13 babies—nine girls and four boys—ranging in age from one month to two years.
- Modus Operandi: The racket lured impoverished families to part with their infants, who were then trafficked through a network of agents and sub-agents. The babies were sourced from three individuals based in Delhi and Pune, who are currently at large.
- Agent Network: The arrested individuals acted as intermediaries, linking the suppliers with childless couples willing to bypass legal adoption procedures. The absconding suspects in Delhi and Pune are believed to have supplied around 50 infants to the network.
Investigation Findings:
- The suspects exploited the desperation of childless couples and the vulnerability of poor families.
- The operation involved multiple layers of agents to facilitate the sale of infants.
- Several of the arrested individuals have a history of involvement in similar criminal activities and have been part of the racket for two to three years.
Legal Action:
- A case has been registered under Section 370 (human trafficking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice Act.
- The investigation is ongoing, with teams formed to apprehend the remaining absconding suspects in Delhi and Pune.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi emphasized the gravity of the crime and reiterated the commitment to dismantling such networks to safeguard children and ensure justice for the affected families.
