Even as the investigation into the high-profile Jalpaiguri child trafficking racket is on in full swing, with the involvement of MPs and government officials embroiled in the case, a separate infant trafficking racket run by a Bangladeshi couple Shyamal and Savitri was busted in Falta of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
They had entered the country through Petrapole border near Bongaon around 10 years back. During their initial days in India, Shyamal worked as a scrap dealer whereas Savitri worked as a domestic help in nursing home.
Estimated infants trafficked: 15
Accused: Shyamal and Savitri Baidya
Nationality of accused: Bangladeshi
Trafficked from: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha
Trafficked to: Various parts of India
Racket active since: 2011
Nursing homes involved: Jeevandweep, Sri Krishna, Purbasha
Cost of each infant: Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000
Links with Jalpaiguri: Not yet
Links with Bhaduria: Possible
Property accumulated: Houses in Falta, Bongaon and Maheshtala, Kolkata; 2 SUVs