As massive female foeticide racket busted in Karnataka, Two doctors arrested

The gang used to conduct sex determination tests on pregnant women and terminate the foetuses if they were found to be female, Dayananda told reporters.

"They ran a big racket. We have arrested nine people so far. Of them, two are doctors, three are lab technicians or compounders in hospitals, two or three brokers or agents, apart from a hospital manager and receptionist. A search is on for the two brokers who are at large," the police commissioner said.

According to him, the accused are mainly from Mysuru and Mandya districts. The Ayurveda doctor's wife is also an accused.

Police sources said they ran their 'clinic' at a jaggery production unit in a remote village in Mandya district, which had all the equipment required to carry out their work.

It is suspected that, in two years, they had illegally terminated over 900 female foetuses.

They charged Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 for a sex determination test, and an additional Rs 50,000 to terminate the pregnancy if the foetus was female, the police said.

Brokers used to approach pregnant women and ask them whether they wished to determine the sex of the foetus. After getting their approval, the agents would bring the women to the 'abortion facility'.

On Tuesday, Lokayukta officials visited the facility to conduct an inquiry.