A cross-state child trafficking ring was caught by police in the Rachakonda Commissionerate of Greater Hyderabad, saving 13 infants, the youngest of whom was only two months old.
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How did the investigation begin?
The racket was discovered after police opened a probe into it when Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) Shobha Rani was detained on May 22 for allegedly selling a kid for ₹ 4.50 lakh. Rachakonda Police initiated an investigation into the “sale” of a baby girl after receiving a tip, which led to the discovery of the child trafficking ring. In April of this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided seven locations in Delhi and Haryana in relation to child trafficking, resulting in the rescue of three newborn newborns. The raids were conducted in a number of Keshavpuram and Rohini locations.
How did the gang operate?
It has been stated that these young children were taken from low-income households and sold for between 1.8 and 5.5 lakh rupees. Rachakonda Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi stated that eleven people, including an RMP doctor, have been arrested. The children saved ranged in age from 23 days to 3 years.
What’s the current status?
Eleven people, eight of whom were women, were taken into custody by the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate’s Medipally Police after they purchased the children from three Delhi and Pune-based suspects.
“Someone was illegally bringing young children from Delhi and Pune and selling them in Vijayawada and Hyderabad. The senior police officer continued, “Couples were taking the children from them and were willing to pay ₹ 4 to 5 lakh for them since they did not want to wait for adoption as it dragged on due to technicalities.”
Four of them are newborn boys, while the other nine are baby girls. The officer stated that they would be turned over to the child welfare department until their biological parents are located.
What about those who “bought” the babies?
“We bought the baby from an RMP doctor. Her name is Shobha Rani. She didn’t give details of his parents. If the right parents are found, we are ready to give up the child,” said the man, who adopted the child for his sister who was unable to conceive. “We will fight for the baby we loved as our own. If the biological parents don’t come, we want the opportunity to adopt the child legally,” he said. The lady demanded ₹4L for the baby. We gave her the money and took the baby away. She told us the parents were very poor, they said.
In addition to having their babies taken away, the couples now have to deal with a police case involving child trafficking and the Juvenile Justice Act. Meanwhile, the babies have been turned over to the Women and Child Development department of the state. The couples developed bonds with the babies, as did the two ladies who had ‘purchased’ them. However, what they did was against the law, said Medipally police station Inspector Govind Reddy.
