Inter-State child trafficking racket under scanner in Mancherial

Police are intensifying a probe into an inter-State child trafficking racket in Mancherial, with arrests made, and investigations focusing on links to Maharashtra and Warangal, amid allegations of cover-ups.

Mancherial: Police have intensified the probe into an alleged human trafficking racket unearthed in the district recently, following revelations that an inter-State gang had been involved in the illegal sale of children.

An inter-State gang accused of selling around 60 children to childless couples over a period of two years was exposed by police in Hyderabad a few days ago. Eleven members of the gang were arrested by the Shamshabad Special Operations Team and Miyapur police on December 24 for the illegal procurement and sale of babies.

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In a related development, a complaint was lodged with the Women and Child Welfare department’s control room against a childless couple from Luxettipet, alleging that they had illegally adopted a three-year-old girl. The child was rescued and shifted to a home in Adilabad, while the Luxettipet police registered a case against the couple and took up investigation.

During the course of the probe, officials found that another baby had also been sold to a couple in the same region for Rs.2 lakh. The couple was accused of purchasing the child through a sweeper employed at a private hospital in Naspur. The sweeper is said to have procured the baby from Maharashtra with the assistance of a woman from Warangal, indicating possible links to offenders from Warangal who were arrested in the past for similar offences.

Investigating officials said they were examining the racket from multiple angles. A special team has been formed to identify the mastermind and dismantle the network. As part of the exercise, the team toured Maharashtra and questioned several women suspected to have played a key role in procuring the children. The team is also reported to be interrogating the sweeper and women from Warangal.

Meanwhile, police have come under criticism for allegedly shielding one person involved in the trafficking racket. While several accused were detained, the person in question was spared, reportedly due to his influence in the region and alleged association with elected representatives.

Police, however, denied the allegations and claimed that certain individuals were spreading rumours against him after he lodged a complaint with officials against the couple. They said details of the racket would be disclosed after the investigation is completed and advised the public not to believe rumours circulating on social media platforms.