Rourkela: At least seven persons including five women were arrested by Plant Site Police in Rourkela for allegedly running a “Child Sale Racket” here.
The accused are identified as Seema Agarwal (45), Sunita Agarwal (50), Nita Agarwal (25), Asha Devi (38), Sheela Gupta (38), Nikhil Agarwal (25) and Sumit Agarwal (21).
As per reports, the eight-member child sale gang was active in the Rourkela region and used to sell infants outside the State, especially in Jharkhand for lakhs of rupees.
Cops also seized several mobile phones from their possession. Police also found pictures of several newborn babies from the phones.
A case has been registered against the accused and further investigation will be done to ascertain involvement of other people in the crime.
One Seema Khuntia staying near Vaishnodevi temple located in Timber Colony was allegedly contacted by Sangeeta and Nita and was offered Rs 3 lakh for male child and Rs 40,000 for female child. Since Seema was in need of money, she went with her granddaughter to a place near the Id-gah.
When Seema Khuntia reached the location as told to her, she found Sarita, Seema and another youth there.
As the women, who contacted Seema Khuntia were not present, she refused to hand over the child initially. Seema Khuntia later gave her granddaughter to Sarita and Seema after much persuasion.
Seema Khuntia asked for the promised amount, but the two women asked her to reach another location. When Seema Khuntia did not find the duo, she lodged a complaint at the Plant Site police station.
However, no complaints have been registered against Seema, who, lured by money, attempted to sell her granddaughter.
