Ludhiana, Feb 16: A clandestine attempt to sell a newborn girl for Rs 2.10 lakh was foiled by Ludhiana residents, leading to the arrest of five people involved in a trafficking network. The group, which includes the child’s mother and a medical professional, was caught on Sunday afternoon at a park on Neela Jhanda Road.
The case came to light when onlookers noticed a woman with a crying infant and questioned her about the child’s well-being. According to police reports, the woman eventually confessed to purchasing the baby, prompting the citizens to contact law enforcement.
Additional DCP-1 Sameer Verma asserted that the infant was born just two days prior at a local nursing home. The officer stated that Sunita Devi, a resident of Sherpur Kalan originally from Uttar Pradesh, sought to part with the child following the birth of her fifth daughter.
The chain of events reportedly involved multiple intermediaries, including a BAMS doctor identified as Manmeet Kaur. Investigators maintained that the doctor worked with a neighbor to locate Mandeep Kaur, a woman from Moga who was seeking to adopt. The final arrangement dictated a payment of Rs 2.10 lakh to secure the infant.
“The buyer was told to pay the total amount, with a significant portion going to the mother and a commission being retained by the middle persons,” ADCP Verma observed during the briefing. He further declared that the police are examining the conduct of the nursing home where the delivery took place to see if staff members were complicit.
The five accused remain in custody while officials continue to trace the involvement of other potential associates. The newborn has been rescued and is receiving necessary medical attention.
