Interstate Infant Trafficking Network Uncovered in Major Police Operation
In a significant breakthrough, Haryana police have uncovered a vast interstate infant trafficking racket with operations spanning multiple states across India. The investigation, centered in Bahadurgarh, has led to 11 arrests so far, with authorities revealing that over 60 infants have been trafficked through this organized network.
Latest Arrest and Network Operations
The most recent arrest involves Jaspreet, a resident of Muktsar in Punjab, who was apprehended after allegedly fleeing with the suspected kingpin, identified as Ladi. The arrest occurred following an incident on March 31, when Bahadurgarh police intercepted a vehicle near Sector-9 and arrested three individuals, including a woman, who were attempting to sell a three-day-old infant in Delhi.
Jaspreet has been placed on a five-day police remand and is currently undergoing intensive interrogation. Investigators hope his testimony will help trace the absconding kingpin and reveal the full extent of this criminal enterprise.
Scale and Scope of the Trafficking Operation
Assistant Commissioner of Police Pradeep Khatri, who first flagged the case, described the syndicate as a large, organized network with operatives spread across different regions. "This is a large, organized network with operatives spread across different regions," he confirmed.
The trafficking operation involved the illegal sale of newborns and young children for sums ranging between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 15 lakh per child. Victims ranged in age from just three days old to five years, with the racket primarily targeting infants.
ACP Khatri revealed that the syndicate has operational links extending to Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Kolkata, indicating a truly vast interstate operation that has been active for nearly five years, becoming particularly active following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rescues and Current Status
So far, police have successfully rescued two children from the trafficking network. Both have been shifted to a care center in Rewari for protection and rehabilitation. One of the rescued infants is just five days old, while the other is approximately five months old.
Of the 11 total arrests made, 10 were apprehended earlier in the investigation. Six of these accused were produced in court on Friday and subsequently sent to judicial custody. ACP Pradeep Nain confirmed the scale of the racket, stating that more than 60 cases of infant trafficking have surfaced so far, with buyers and facilitators also under active investigation.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Actions
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the supervision of Police Commissioner Dr. Rajshree Singh to coordinate the complex interstate investigation. Multiple police teams are currently carrying out raids across various states with the objective of completely dismantling the network.
"Our priority is to arrest the kingpin. That will expose several hidden layers of this syndicate," emphasized ACP Khatri, adding that more revelations are expected as the probe progresses. The investigation continues to uncover new connections and operational details of this disturbing criminal enterprise that preyed on society's most vulnerable members.
