MYSURU: Mysuru police have busted a child trafficking gang with international links, following the arrest of 11 persons.
“The gang used to lure poor and vulnerable people and later sell their children to childless couples in various parts of the country and abroad. Children were sold for prices ranging between `1 lakh and `4 lakh. Higher rates were there for good-looking babies,” police said on Thursday.
“Their nexus remained unnoticed for six years and it got exposed only after the kidnap of a nine-month-old baby in Nanjangud. As many as 16 children, including nine girls, have been rescued till date. All the rescued children are aged between 25 days and six years,” police said.
Most of the children given for illegal adoption were born at Nasim and Aravind Hospital, they said.“Hospital authorities declared the child as dead, and later gave it for adoption. One Madanlal, who adopted a child illegally first, later became an agent. One of the accused Ravichandra sold his own daughter,” they added.
A child traded to one Serene, residing in the United States, has been traced. Police suspect that another child might have been traded from Kerala to Kenya and they are likely to visit the country soon. SP Ravi D Channannavar said the gang members wanted to earn quick money for lavish life.