Mangalore : Social activists bust child trafficking racket; 3 arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore , July 27, 2013:  A child trafficking racket was busted in Mangalore on July 26, Friday night by the Child Helpline Team and social activist Vidya Dinker with due help of the police department. Three persons including a couple and a quarry worker woman were arrested by the police.

Those arrested are Lenita from Bajal, Jossey, her husband who hails from Bantwal and Rangayya  from Badami who worked in a quarry in Bantwal.

 

 

The Child Helpline Team was first tipped off regarding the child trafficking by an Anganavadi worker named Rehana. The Helpline Team later came to know that Rangavva, a quarry worker who hailed from Badami had sold her two month old baby to  the couple.

Though the Child Helpline team met  the couple, they refused to admit that they had bought the child. Lenita even produced documents to prove that the child was her own, while the team realized that she had faked documents pertaining to her own three year old child.

Later the Child Helpline contacted social activist Vidya Dinker  and then  approached the couple stating a family living abroad was interested in buying the child. Vidya Dinker then clad in a burqa approached the couple stating that she wished to buy the child. She was accompanied by Anganavadi worker Rehana and  another person.

Though Lenita was unwilling at present, later she was convinced and a deal was struck to give the child for Rs one lakh and an extra Rs 25000 for creation of fake documents through an advocate whom Lenita knew.

As per  the deal it was decided to  hand over the money in exchange for the child at Tokkottu on Friday night. The Child Helpline informed the SP and Mangalore Police Commissioner and the couple were easily trapped red handed. The quarry worker Rangavva who sold the child was arrested in Bantwal.

The police seized a cash of Rs 90,000, 10 pass books, 20 credit cards and a fake press card. The child was handed over to the CWC.

Renny D’Souza, Director of 1098 Child Helpline and her team including Vinod, Deepak, Ashunta D’Souza, Sarita, Jayanti and  Sunita assisted in the operation.
Investigations are underway by Ullal police.