Karnataka Police Busts Child Trafficking Racket, 11 Arrested

According to the Karnataka police, the children were sold for prices ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 4 lakh.

Child trafficking. (Photo: Representative image. iStock)

Mysuru Police have busted a child trafficking gang and arrested 11 persons who sold children to childless couples in places including Karnataka, Kerala, US and Kenya.

According to a report by Deccan Chronicle, the racket was busted a month after it came to light. As many as 16 children, aged between 25 days and 6 years, have been rescued so far.

Parents of seven children have been identified through DNA tests, say reports.

The police say that the gang had been functioning for the past six years and lured vulnerable and poor people into selling their children. Hospital staff of four hospitals were also found to have assisted the gang.

A police official told Times of India that the hospital authorities declared the children dead, and later gave them for adoption.

Usha, Superintendent at Naseema hospital; a fake doctor Anusha; Soumya, staffer at Cheluvamba hospital; another staff nurse at KR hospital Mohan; a nurse named Renuka and CJ Francis of Naseema hospital are those identified to be involved in the crime.

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“Children were sold for prices ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. Higher rates were there for good-looking babies,” police said on Thursday.

Three children including one given to a US-based software engineer, a couple in Kenya and a third to the owner of a textile showroom in Mysuru are reportedly yet to be traced.

SP Ravi Channannavar told journalists that the gang had made use of stringent adoption procedure in the country to run their racket. He added that the gang wanted to live a lavish life and earn quick money.

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