The gang operating across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan mainly targeted vulnerable families at bus stops and railway stations, to traffick children for buyers under the guise of adoption.
File Photo: IANS
The Delhi Police dismantled a child trafficking gang operating across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan with the arrest of ten persons allegedly involved in kidnapping and sale of infants, some as young as 10 days old, officials said.
According to the police, the investigation began on August 22, after a man, Suresh from Uttar Pradesh’s Banda, reported that his six-month-old son had gone missing from ISBT Sarai Kale Khan, where his family had a stopover before resuming onward journey.
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With this information, police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Juvenile Justice Act and launched a multi-state operation.
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Addressing a press conference, Hemat Tiwari said, “We meticulously scanned the CCTV footage from the vicinity of the bus terminal that led us to Veerbhan, a resident of Pinahat, Agra, who, along with his father-in-law Kalicharan, had abducted the child on instructions from one Rambaran.”
“The baby was subsequently sold through a network involving Dr. Kamlesh, owner of K K Hospital in Agra, and Sundar, a trafficker with prior involvement in illegal activities,” the officer said.
Amid the probe, Inspector Rajender Dagar, who disguised himself as a patient, along with the team, apprehended Kamlesh. The arrest led to a string of arrests, including Sundar and a couple, Krishna and Preeti Sharma, from whose house the kidnapped infant was rescued.
Further raids in Agra, Nainital, and Lucknow led to the recovery of five other trafficked children and arrests of other accused, including mediators Ritu, Jyotsna, and Rubina Agarwal, alias Rachita.
“The gang mainly targeted vulnerable families at bus stops and railway stations, trafficking children for buyers under the guise of adoption,” the DCP said.
“Several accused have been remanded to judicial custody, while others remain on police remand as investigations continue to identify more victims and suspects,” he added.
Efforts are on to track the remaining gang members and rescue more trafficked children, if any, the officer said.
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