Five women arrested in Delhi child trafficking racket, infant rescued

Delhi Police have arrested five women and rescued a four-day-old infant in a child trafficking racket busted near Kashmere Gate. The accused allegedly targeted vulnerable expectant mothers in government hospitals and financially distressed women, luring them into selling newborns or arranging surrogacy through IVF. Police said the gang had been operating for nearly three years and had trafficked three to five infants previously.

Acting on a tip-off, police officers posed as buyers and negotiated a deal to purchase a newborn for Rs 6.5 lakh. After paying Rs 20,000 as token money, they were shown the infant wrapped in a blanket, and the five women were arrested. The Times of India reports that the accused, identified as Isha, Harjeet Kaur, Shabnam, and sisters Priya and Simran, are school dropouts. Hindustan Times reports that the infant was bought from a couple in Ghaziabad for Rs 4.1 lakh.

Police are investigating the involvement of government hospital workers and IVF centres that allegedly assisted the gang. The infant has been sent to a hospital, and the child welfare committee has been informed. Authorities are trying to trace the sold babies and identify the mother.