Banaskantha Child Trafficking Racket Exposed Again as Police Foil Newborn Sale
In a distressing recurrence of child trafficking incidents, the Banaskantha district of Gujarat has once again come under scrutiny. The Ahmedabad city crime branch intervened on Wednesday to prevent the alleged sale of a 10-day-old boy for Rs 30,000. This case mirrors a previous incident where daily wager parents sold their infant, highlighting a grim pattern of exploitation driven by extreme poverty.
Arrests Made in Danta Taluka Village
Police have arrested the parents, residents of a village in Danta taluka, along with two middlemen identified as Govind Gamar and his son Shivaraj Gamar. According to authorities, the couple handed over their newborn to these agents shortly after birth. The deal was reportedly struck for Rs 50,000, with the parents set to receive Rs 30,000 after commissions of Rs 5,000 each to four intermediaries.
During interrogation, the parents revealed they have three other children and were unable to bear the financial burden of raising a fourth. "They claimed poverty forced them to sell the baby," an officer stated, underscoring the desperate circumstances leading to such crimes.
Wider Crackdown on Trafficking Network
This arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown on a child trafficking racket that surfaced earlier this year. On January 29, police intercepted four accused near Ahmedabad airport while they were allegedly attempting to transport a 15-day-old infant to Hyderabad for resale. In a similar case on Monday, a 10-day-old boy, the fifth child of daily wagers, was reportedly sold due to financial constraints.
Police investigations indicate that at least 20 children, primarily from tribal and economically weaker families in north Gujarat districts such as Banaskantha and Sabarkantha, have been trafficked over the past two years. The agents in the latest case were transporting the baby from the Khandera village area in Banaskantha to a handler in Himatnagar when police intervened.
Key Details of the Incident
- The parents, arrested along with two middlemen, cited poverty as the motive for selling their newborn.
- The alleged sale price was Rs 50,000, with the parents to receive Rs 30,000 after commissions.
- This case follows a previous incident where a 10-day-old was sold by daily wager parents in Banaskantha.
- Police are intensifying efforts to dismantle trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable families in Gujarat.
The recurrence of such cases in Banaskantha raises serious concerns about child welfare and economic disparities in the region. Authorities are urging increased vigilance and support for impoverished families to prevent further trafficking incidents.
