Kamli Bai, the alleged broker in a baby-selling racket in Telangana's Nalgonda district
Less than 48 hours after NDTV exposed a baby-selling racket in Telangana's Nalgonda district, police have arrested the alleged kingpin, a woman named Kamli Bai. Six others have also been named as accused in a case filed by the police.
Police have also rescued a 15-month-old baby girl who was allegedly sold by Kamli nearly a year ago. The child's biological father and foster mother have also been arrested.
Posing as a childless couple who wanted a baby, an NDTV team had travelled to Nalgonda, one of the most backward districts of Telangana. At a government-run Shishu Gruha or children's home, they were offered a baby girl in exchange for money. The attendants and middlemen confessed to selling babies to prospective parents for as little as Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000. Even the local autorickshaw drivers knew of the trafficking racket and were apparently complicit in it, NDTV found. The brokers had strong political connections.
Kamli Bai, a former vice-
sarpanch or deputy village head, had even called the undercover NDTV team to say that she had arranged a baby girl for Rs. 30,000.
"My name is Kamli Bai. I have been deputy
sarpanch twice. It is a 23-day-old baby. Beautiful, fair child. I fixed up the deal for Rs. 30,000. I gave Rs. 5000 as advance on your behalf. When are you coming?" she demanded to know.
The state's Women and Child Welfare Department has now ordered a probe into the activities at the children's home. Police have also sought footage of the investigation carried out by NDTV.
Most of the baby girls at the government home were given up for adoption by families which wanted only boys. In the poverty-ridden tribal belt of the state many think it is pragmatic to give up a baby girl, especially if they also get some money in exchange, NDTV found.