In a joint operation, the Telangana police and the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department officials rescued a 27-day-old male baby.
The accused reportedly sold the baby to five persons for ₹5 lakh, to some unknown persons in Visakhapatnam, and later to a couple in Anakapalli.
Officials of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICPS) staff of the WD&CW, who rescued the infant, admitted the baby in the Government-run Sishu Gruha, and her condition was stable, said West Godavari District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Ch. Suryachakraveni.
A woman, G. Chilakamma of Chintalapudi mandal delivered a male baby on March 3, in a private hospital at Aswaraopeta in Telangana. Ms. Chilakamma has two children and she gave birth to the third baby.
The infant’s father, Arun Kumar, and grandmother, Mary, allegedly sold the baby through an RMP doctor, Buchibabu, a native of Rajamahendravaram, and one Prasanthi of Aswaraopeta, a few days ago.
Officials are investigating on the links between, Prasanthi, Buchibabu and the others involved in the racket.
As Buchibabu’s family was spending money lavishly and failed to produce the baby in Anganwadi Centre while collecting ration, Anganwadi worker, Vijaya Lakshmi, insisted that they bring the baby to take eggs and ration (meant for supplying to the pregnant and lactating mothers).
On suspicion, Vijaya Lakshmi, lodged a complaint with the Aswaraopet police (where the woman delivered the baby), who along with the WD&CW officials rescued the baby from Anakapalli.
“We questioned the baby’s parents and the grandmother on Wednesday. Officials are enquiring on how the RMP doctor of Rajahmundry came in contact with the hospital staff, mediator Prasanthi, the baby’s parents and the adopted persons of Visakhapatnam,” Ms. Suryachakraveni said.
In another similar incident, a three-month-old female baby was allegedly sold by her father M. Manoj of Mangalagiri.
The Guntur Urban police arrested 11 persons, including a few women in the case.
The baby was sold to six persons in Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Vijayawada and Eluru, and ₹10.3 lakh changed hands, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) J. Rambabu.
Manoj sold the baby to M. Nagalakshmi, who gave the infant to Megavath Gayatri, who, in turn, sold the baby to Bhukya Nandu. Nandu allegedly sold the baby to Shaik Noorjahan, and the baby was handed over to B. Umadevi, and then to K. Vijaya Lakshmi.
Vijaya Lakshmi reportedly sold the infant to V. Ramesh, from whom the police recovered the baby, said Mangalagiri Urban Circle Inspector B. Ankamma Rao.
