Lucknow doctor arrested for trafficking of Newborns

Lucknow: The Gudamba police recently uncovered a child trafficking racket in the city, arresting a doctor who owns a private clinic and is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation. Along with the doctor, several other gang members were arrested. The group allegedly targeted impoverished families, lured them with money, and sold their newborns to childless couples for large sums of money.

The group allegedly used manipulation, coercion, and abduction to maintain their illicit operations. Initially, the gang lured impoverished families into handing over their children for money and in case they refused, the children were kidnapped.

Also read- Karnataka: Doctor among 5 held in child trafficking racket

As per a TOI news report, the incident came to light when a pregnant woman, a resident of Nizampur Mallohar, became the latest victim of the gang and her child was allegedly kidnapped by the gang. 

On Sunday, she gave birth to a baby boy at Lakshmi Clinic, owned by Dr Bhuneshwar Yadav. Instead of giving her baby after the delivery, the doctor and other members of the gang pressured her into handing over her newborn baby to a childless couple since she already had children. However, when the mother insisted and protested to protect her child, the gang eventually let her leave with the child but followed her. 

The matter took a sinister turn when the woman visited a private hospital with her baby on Monday. There, she encountered Shyama Kumari, who suggested showing the child to another doctor. The woman was required to use the washroom, therefore she handed the baby to Shyama, but when she returned, Shyama was gone.

Following this, the woman reported the matter to the police and filed a complaint. An investigation was launched in this regard. 

Meanwhile, the police in a separate investigation nabbed the gang based on a tip-off and rescued the baby. The police had no information about the baby's mother, therefore they handed the baby to Childline service. 

After a video of the child was shown to the mother, she immediately recognised him and contacted Gudamba police.

JK Dubey, additional DCP, North Zone told TOI, "We received a tip-off about a child trafficking deal taking place near Maurya Bhatt. Officers raided the location and arrested Muneshwar and Omveer, who were negotiating the sale of a newborn. We have seized Rs 1.99 lakh in cash from their possession."

Currently, an investigation is underway to know how many other children were abducted and sold by the gang.

Also read- Child selling racket busted: Thane Doctor caught red handed trying to sell 20-day-old infant