Chandigarh, April 7: A week-long operation by the Bahadurgarh police has led to the rescue of a newborn baby sold by his parents for ₹2.25 lakh. The infant’s parents, residents of Faridkot, told investigators they believed the sale was a “mutually beneficial” arrangement that would ensure their son a superior upbringing while providing them with much-needed financial relief.
According to police reports, the parents were unaware they were dealing with a criminal network. DCP Mayank Mishra stated that the couple lived hand-to-mouth and felt they could not support a third child alongside their 15 and 9-year-old siblings. “The parents believed they could not provide a good life for their son, while the adoptive parents would take care of him,” the DCP affirmed. An acquaintance allegedly facilitated the deal by claiming the group was engaged in legitimate adoption work.
The rescue occurred just before the child was to be handed over to a family in Delhi for nearly ₹10 lakh. Authorities maintained that the gang intercepted in Bahadurgarh is part of a larger transnational network. Three individuals, including a woman from Punjab, were caught during the initial transfer on March 31, leading to further arrests in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
Officials declared that the case highlights the intersection of extreme poverty and organized crime. “Raids are being conducted at possible hideouts of other gang members across various states,” DCP Mishra maintained, asserting that the police are determined to dismantle the entire infrastructure of the illegal trade. The rescued infant is currently under the care of state authorities while the legal proceedings against the arrested suspects move forward.
