TIRUPATTUR: In a shocking case of child trafficking, the Tirupattur district police rescued a two-month-old baby girl who was sold by her mother for a meager sum of Rs 50,000 and later resold through a network of brokers to a childless couple in Namakkal for Rs 13 lakh. Six individuals, including the mother and the couple who purchased the baby, have been arrested.
How the Sale Unfolded
The main accused, S Jabeena, 35, is the wife of Shabeer, 38, a disabled man from Pernambut, Vellore district. Jabeena used to beg for alms in the Nariyampattu area near Ambur, where she gave birth to a baby girl two months ago. Rashid Ahmed, 50, a mason, approached her and convinced her to sell the baby to overcome her financial distress. On May 20, Rashid paid Jabeena Rs 50,000 in cash and took custody of the infant.
Mother's Change of Heart
When Shabeer questioned his wife about the missing baby, she gave contradictory answers. He then gave her an ultimatum to bring the baby back. Jabeena approached Rashid to return the Rs 50,000 in exchange for her baby. However, Rashid kept evading her for days. Desperate, she approached the Oomerabad police station and filed a complaint to rescue her child.
Police Investigation
Tirupattur district superintendent of police Akshay Anil Wakhare ordered an investigation. District child protection officer Sugapriya also filed a formal complaint. Investigations were launched across multiple regions, including Vellore, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, and Namakkal, to track down the baby.
The Broker Network
Investigations revealed a web of brokers involved in the crime. Rashid handed the infant to his friend Pugazhendhi, 41, a driver residing in Vasanthapuram, Vellore. Pugazhendhi, through connections at a private hospital in Vellore, handed the baby over to Uma Maheswari, 42, of Perundurai, Erode. Her relative, a marriage broker named Ramesh, knew of a wealthy couple, Sathish Kumar, 33, and Harini, 27, from Namakkal, who had been childless for more than seven years.
Rescue and Arrests
Following the paper trail, a police team rushed to Komarapalayam in Namakkal and safely rescued the baby from the custody of the couple. Police arrested the couple, alongside the main conspirators: Rashid, Pugazhendhi, and Uma Maheswari, for child trafficking and illegal sale.
