A distressing case of child trafficking has surfaced in Durg, Chhattisgarh, where a woman’s sister is accused of kidnapping and selling her 8-month-old nephew for financial gain. Sukhairin Bai filed a complaint, alleging that her sister, Sangini, was responsible for the abduction and sale of her child. The police, acting on the complaint, have apprehended five suspects connected to a criminal syndicate operating out of Bihar. Those arrested include a retired FCI employee, a quack doctor, the woman, her boyfriend, and an associate.
The inquiry revealed that Gauri Mahto, a retired FCI employee, lacked an heir and, facing family property disputes, sought a child. He contacted an unqualified doctor, Badal (Mithlesh), to procure a child. A deal was agreed upon for ₹7 lakh (approximately $8,400), and the child’s abduction was planned.
Sukhairin informed the police that Sangini, who works in an orchestra in Patna, invited her to visit in June. Sukhairin was confined in a single room for five days. On July 8th, Sangini and her boyfriend took Sukhairin to the railway station. After giving her a ticket, they fled with the baby. Sukhairin, realizing something was amiss after the train left, reported the matter to the police.
The police investigation found that Sangini had lured her sister to Patna as part of the plot. The child was then handed over to Pradeep, who in turn gave the baby to the doctor. The doctor then sold the child to Gauri Mahto for ₹7 lakh. The investigation also uncovered that the doctor was running a clinic without the necessary medical certifications.
Pradeep and Santosh were responsible for bringing patients from rural areas to the doctor’s clinic and received commissions for their efforts. Following the dismantling of this criminal network, the police arrested Sangini, Santosh Pal, Pradeep Kumar, Dr. Badal, and Gauri Mahto. They were brought to Durg on transit remand and were subsequently presented in court on Friday and sent to jail.