Mangalore : A couple and a lady quarry worker were arrested on July 26, Friday night after a child trafficking racket was busted by the 1098 Child Helpline Team along with social activist Vidya Dinker and a journalist.
The arrested are Lenita from Bajal, Jossey, her husband who hails from Bantwal and Rangayya from Badami who worked in a quarry in Bantwal.
Sources said an Anganavadi worker had earlier passed on information regarding the child trafficking racket to the Child Helpline and soon the Helpline team had realized that Rangavva had sold her two month old baby to Jossey and Lenita.
Though the team approached Lenita, she denied that she had bought the baby and claimed that the child was her own and even produced documents which the team later realized were that of Lenitas own child.
Finally, the team through the Anganavadi worker Rehana contacted Lenita stating that a family living abroad wanted to buy the baby. Finally a sting operation was carried out by social activist Vidya Dinker who wearing a burqa introduced herself to Lenita as a woman staying in Dubai.
Lenita who initially refused later agreed and upon a meeting with Lenita along with three women including Rehana it was decided to sell the child for Rs one lakh. She also demanded an additional Rs 25000 to get fake documents done. Lenita also told that she knew an advocate who would help her.
Finally, as decided they had met at Tokkottu to hand over the money and get the child. The Child Helpline also informed SP Abhishek Goel and Mangalore Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar and the accused were trapped.
A cash of Rs 90,000, 10 pass books, 20 credit cards and a fake press card were seized. The child was handed over to the CWC and the quarry worker Rangavva was arrested at Bantwal.
Renny D’Souza, Director of 1098 Child Helpline and her team including Vinod, Deepak, Ashunta D’Souza, Sarita, Jayanti and Sunita carried out the operation.
Ullal police have registered a case and are investigating.