Infant trafficking racket busted in Medak; hospital staff under scanner

Medak: In a shocking revelation, gangs allegedly involved in the illegal sale of infants have been operating in and around both government and private maternity hospitals in Telangana’s Medak district, with hospital staff reportedly acting as facilitators in the racket. 

Over the past three months, the Medak police, along with officials of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), have busted cases linked to the sale of newborn babies in the district. Investigations revealed that childless couples were approaching hospital staff members, who allegedly helped arrange the illegal deals in exchange for money.

Also Read:Medak nurse arrested for allegedly selling newborn for Rs 1.5 lakh

In the first incident reported in February this year, a tribal couple from Lingasanipally Thanda sold their just-born son to a childless couple from Kamareddy district, for Rs 1.70 lakh. When the Anganwadi teacher and ANM inquired about the missing infant, they tracked down the infant in Kamareddy. The police arrested the persons who were involved in the sales, reports Telangana Today.

In another shocking incident at a private hospital in Medak town, staff at the hospital reportedly misled a couple into believing their newborn baby girl had died immediately after birth in April. The family was told that the body had been disposed of. However, after receiving information from a whistleblower, the parents lodged a complaint. Police later discovered that the infant had allegedly been sold to a childless couple in Siddipet.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that in a shocking case of alleged infant trafficking, a nurse at a private hospital in Telangana's Medak district has been arrested for reportedly selling a newborn baby girl for Rs 1.5 lakh after falsely informing the mother that the child had died shortly after delivery.

A third case involved another tribal woman who had delivered her fourth child. She allegedly sold her newborn with the help of a middleman for Rs 3 lakh. However, reports suggest that the parents were paid only Rs 40,000, while the remaining money was shared among facilitators. Following a complaint by local Anganwadi staff and an ANM, police arrested 10 persons in connection with the case.

Officials suspect that economically vulnerable tribal families, particularly those with multiple children and limited awareness about family planning, were being targeted by brokers. Investigators said middlemen often visited tribal villages to identify financially distressed families and lure them into illegal deals.

The recent cases have raised serious concerns over infant trafficking in the region and highlighted the urgent need for stricter monitoring around maternity hospitals.

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