“Adopted” Child Rescued from India Trafficking Ring

Five people were arrested after a newborn child was sold to a Kasargod-based bank employee and his wife for Rs 22,000 (approx. $364.33) six months ago. Those arrested include the biological mother, biological aunt, two “sweepers” and the facilitator who is related to the couple who adopted. The “adoptive parents” were not arrested.

“Superintendent of police Abhishek Goyal said Venur police acting on a complaint and under the direction of the IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy arrested Usha (name changed), the biological mother, her sister Champa, Prameela and Sukanya, sweepers, and Gulabi who sold the child to her relative Jayaraj and Rajeevi. After 25 years of marriage, the couple didn’t have children and unaware of the law, they took care of the ‘adopted’ child for six months.

Vanita Torvi, member, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said the issue involved illegal birth of child, sale and adoption. “We’ll issue guidelines making it mandatory for women coming for deliveries to furnish proof of residence and relationship to prevent such incidents,” Torvi said.

Asha Nayak, chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, said the commission on receipt of letters from the villagers and gram panchayat members about the sale on April 13 and April 16 respectively, initiated the process of tracing the child. “We issued three summons to Usha and Champa asking them to appear before us and they did not respond,” she said, adding that CWC finally issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the duo. The rescued child has been kept in a suitable institution at Puttur, she said.”

Adopted Kid Rescued; 5 Arrested

[Times of India 11/11/12]

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