Shima/Jalandhar, Feb 24: The Himachal Pradesh Police have intensified their crackdown on an interstate baby trafficking racket, arresting six additional suspects on Tuesday. This latest action brings the total number of arrests to nine in a case involving a criminal network that allegedly operated across Punjab and Haryana, selling infants under the pretext of formal adoptions.
The investigation was triggered by a complaint filed on February 17 by an individual who stated he was defrauded of ₹23,500 by an agent promising a child for adoption. Following this report, law enforcement conducted raids in Jalandhar and Batala, leading to the initial arrest of the primary agent and two female accomplices. Dehra Superintendent of Police Mayank Chaudhary affirmed that the gang utilized a sophisticated web of agents to identify potential clients across state lines.
“Technical analysis and financial trails helped us connect the links,” SP Chaudhary stated. He noted that on February 23, special investigation teams apprehended five more suspects from Punjab and one from Haryana. To date, investigators have documented illegal transactions amounting to ₹4.85 lakh linked to the scam.
Authorities confirmed that a newborn infant was successfully recovered in Dehra. Following a directive from the Juvenile Justice Board, the child has been placed in the care of a specialized adoption agency.
Police officials maintained that the racket exploited the desperation of couples seeking to bypass the rigorous legal framework established by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). Under the Juvenile Justice Act, any adoption conducted outside of the official CARA portal is a criminal offense, carrying potential prison time and significant fines. The department asserted that these stringent regulations are essential to prevent trafficking and ensure the safety of minors.
