Andhra police busts child trafficking gang in Eluru district

Metro India News | Eluru

The Andhra Pradesh police have dismantled a child trafficking network in Eluru district after uncovering the illegal sale of newborns, officials said on Sunday. The investigation began following verification of suspicious child registration records.

Eluru Sub-Divisional Police Officer D Sravan Kumar said the first case involved a couple from Mudinepalli mandal who allegedly purchased a newborn girl for around Rs 3 lakh on December 1, 2024, after failing to conceive through IVF. Six people have been named as accused, including the parents and intermediaries who arranged the transaction. The couple reportedly feigned pregnancy and used forged documents—including a fake birth certificate and Aadhaar card—to pass the child off as their own.

During the inquiry, another case emerged involving a newborn boy allegedly sold for Rs 30,000 at a private hospital in Eluru on September 29, 2024, with a nurse allegedly involved. Cases have been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice Act relating to child trafficking and organised crime.

Eluru District Child Protection Officer Ch Surya Chakraveni confirmed that investigations revealed links to suspicious births at a private hospital on September 24. Some suspects, including habitual offenders, are believed to be part of a larger organised network. Authorities are probing whether additional cases are connected to the syndicate.