Infant trafficking racket busted in Bengaluru, seven 'agents' arrested; doctors' link suspected
Bengaluru: An infant trafficking racket has been busted in the city with the arrest of seven people, Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda said on Tuesday, adding that the involvement of doctors is suspected.
A 20-day old male child was rescued when the gang, whose members are mainly from Tamil Nadu, was seen in Rajarajeshwari Nagar here in suspicious circumstances.
The arrested persons have been identified as Suhasini, Gomathi, Kannan Ramaswamy, Hemalatha, Sharanya, Mahalakshmi and Radha, police sources said adding that a case has been registered at the Rajarajeshwari Nagar police station.
The gang was allegedly involved in stealing, and then selling newborn babies at a ''high price'' to childless couples, and most of the children sold in Bengaluru are suspected to have been brought from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
''It is a big racket in which trafficked babies are sold to childless parents at Rs eight lakh to Rs 10 lakh. An interrogation by the Central Crime Branch revealed that they have sold 10 babies so far," Dayananda told reporters.
According to him, a large network is behind the racket and it also involves some doctors from Tamil Nadu.
''The gang had been doing it for many years but only recently their activities came to light,'' the police commissioner said. ''We have taken them into police custody and are interrogating them.'' The gang was also providing forged documents to the childless parents after selling the babies, he added.
To a question on the possible involvement of hospitals and nursing homes, Dayananda said, ''It has come to our knowledge that some doctors are also involved in this racket. We are investigating the role of doctors from Tamil Nadu.''
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New safety wristbands launched for children at Makkah’s Grand Mosque
Riyadh: Authorities in Saudi Arabia have introduced a new safety measure to protect the youngest visitors at the Grand Mosque in Makkah by distributing free identification wristbands to families.
This initiative, led by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, aims to prevent children from getting lost in the massive crowds and ensures they can be quickly reunited with their guardians if they wander off. By providing a simple way for staff to contact parents immediately, the program offers peace of mind to pilgrims during the busy Umrah and Hajj seasons.
The process for obtaining a bracelet is straightforward and designed for convenience, as families can pick them up directly upon arrival at the mosque’s main entrances. There is no need for online registration or any advance payment, as the service is completely free.
According to reports, dedicated desks have been set up at major entry points, such as the King Abdulaziz Gate and King Fahd Gate, where staff members help parents fill out the necessary details.
The child’s name and a guardian’s mobile phone number are recorded on the band, which is then securely fastened to the child’s wrist before they enter the prayer areas.
While the system is available for all visitors, officials especially urge parents to use it during peak times like Ramadan or the annual Hajj pilgrimage when the crowds are most dense.
