In a significant breakthrough operation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) managed to rescue two infants—a 15-day-old baby and a mere 2-day-old newborn—after dismantling an underground child trafficking syndicate on a fateful Friday night. The sting operation led to the arrest of seven individuals deeply enmeshed in the nefarious web of selling newborns to childless couples, using the digital expanse of social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to advertise their illegal trade.
An extensive investigative search spanned across seven different locations in both Delhi and Haryana, uncovering the dark operations of the child traffic racket in the bustling streets of India’s national capital. The anchor of Zee News’ show DNA, Ram Mohan Sharma, delved into the intricacies of the traffickers’ modus operandi, laying bare the grim realities of the thriving underground market.
The raids, spurred by an actionable tip, occurred simultaneously in multiple regions. Shockingly, three infants were recovered from a house located in Keshavpuram, a neighborhood in Delhi. Amongst the rescued were two newborn boys, barely a day and a half and fifteen days old, respectively, along with an approximately one-month-old baby girl. These vulnerable children were snatched from disparate locations or obtained explicitly for the purpose of sale, a disturbing revelation disclosed by CBI officials. Several individuals, including the buyers and a woman coordinating the transactions, were among those taken into custody.
The implicated culprits were presented before a court, with seven being remanded under the CBI’s custody. Delving deeper into the illegitimate network’s hierarchy, the CBI identified Indu and Neeraj as the pivotal kingpins governing the illegal operations. Reports suggest that the network would target infants of parents under medical care or those born to surrogate mothers. Subsequently, they would seek potential adoptive parents through Facebook and WhatsApp, solidifying their transactions with forged adoption papers to facilitate the sale.
Based on CBI insights, the trafficking ring treated the infants as mere commodities, selling them off in the illegal market for prices ranging from Rs 4 to Rs 6 lakh. According to estimates, around ten infants may have been trafficked in the past month alone by this very network. Their reach extended beyond the confines of Delhi NCR, with certain prestigious hospitals’ staff members in other states being complicit. In a staggering twist, the investigation disclosed that the chief trafficker is purportedly an Assistant Labour Commissioner, a government official.
The CBI’s investigation is far from over as they continue to unravel the sprawling child trafficking network. There is an anticipated string of further discoveries and arrests, some already including a hospital ward boy from an interconnected institution. The extent of the syndicate’s reach remains uncertain; however, the probability of additional arrests remains high as the agency digs deeper, aiming to bring the entire chain of perpetrators to justice.
This case exemplifies a painful reminder of how criminal networks exploit the most vulnerable members of society, turning the blessing of new life into a transaction of commodification through the abuse of digital technologies. As law enforcement agencies crack down on such illegal activities, it is imperative for society to remain vigilant and for authorities to reinforce measures that safeguard children from such atrocious fates.
