A grave blot on humanity was revealed on Friday night when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) successfully dismantled a syndicate involved in the despicable trade of newborn babies. The operation led to the rescue of two newborns, including a 15-day-old infant and a two-day-old baby. Throughout this operation, seven individuals were detained by the agency, accused of being complicit in the trafficking scheme which targeted vulnerable, childless couples through social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
With the specific aim of uprooting this illicit network, the CBI orchestrated searches at seven different locations across Delhi and the neighboring Haryana. In a sweeping operation, authorities acted on credible intelligence which prompted them to undertake the raid. Zee News anchor Ram Mohan Sharma provided an insightful analysis of the modus operandi employed by this child trafficking racket.
On that fateful night, CBI officials carried out synchronized raids across various parts of Delhi and Haryana. A particularly significant bust took place at a residential premise in Delhi’s Keshavpuram neighborhood. Here, three newborns were rescued, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Among the infants liberated were two boys – one merely one and a half days old and the other 15 days old – and a baby girl approximately one month old. CBI officials revealed that these innocent lives were either abducted from varied locations or conspicuously obtained for subsequent sale.
The meticulous operation led to the arrest of seven individuals, including prospective buyers and intermediaries involved in facilitating these illegal transactions. The accused were presented in court, with all seven being remanded to CBI custody for further inquiry. This syndicate was reportedly masterminded by two key figures, Indu and Neeraj, who orchestrated the intricate trafficking network.
Reports from the CBI indicate that the network cunningly extracted infants from unsuspecting parents who had been hospitalized, as well as from surrogate mothers.
. These babies were subsequently advertised through encrypted messages on Facebook and WhatsApp, targeting hopeful adoptive parents who were ready to indulge in illegal practices to fulfill their dreams of parenthood. The CBI disclosed that the syndicate went as far as to forge legal adoption documents to smoothen the transaction process.
In an alarming revelation, it was found that these human traffickers commodified the infants, demanding sums ranging from Rs 4 to Rs 6 lakh in the black market. CBI sources suggest that over the past month alone, this syndicate could have trafficked around ten infants. Disturbingly, the network’s tentacles stretched beyond the Delhi NCR area, implicating staff members from reputable hospitals in different states.
In one of the most shocking aspects of this case, the syndicate’s ringleader was allegedly a government official, who held the position of Assistant Labour Commissioner. This revelation has intensified calls for a thorough and unbridled investigation given the susceptibility of such grievous offenses occurring under the purview of individuals in trusted positions.
The CBI underscored that the probe into this nefarious child trafficking network remains ongoing. They anticipate unearthing further information, given the extent of the racket’s operations. It is expected that more individuals connected to this scandal will be taken into custody soon, notably from prestigious hospitals implicated by the accused so far. It has already been confirmed that additional personnel, including a hospital ward boy, have been arrested in connection with these activities. The expanding investigation aims to ascertain just how widespread this syndicate is and to arrest any remaining members complicit in these horrifying crimes.
As the investigation proceeds, the nation holds its breath, hoping for justice for the innocent lives caught in the web of deception and heartlessness. This chilling episode serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for vigilant mechanisms to safeguard the most vulnerable in our society – the children.
