Gujarat Police Uncover Disturbing Pricing Hierarchy in Child Trafficking Racket
In a shocking revelation from Gujarat police's ongoing investigation into a recently busted inter-state child trafficking network, authorities have disclosed that skin color served as a primary factor in determining the market value of infants, closely followed by gender as secondary criteria. This disturbing pricing structure emerged during the probe into the elaborate child-selling operation that spanned between Gujarat and Telangana states.
Skin Color Dictates Trafficking Prices
According to crime branch sources familiar with the investigation, infants possessing a fair complexion commanded significantly higher prices, fetching between Rs 6-7 lakh per child. In stark contrast, children with darker skin tones were sold for substantially lower amounts ranging from Rs 2-3 lakh each. This reprehensible valuation system based on physical appearance highlights the deep-seated societal prejudices that traffickers exploited for financial gain.
Gender-Based Price Discrimination
The investigation further uncovered that gender played a crucial role in the trafficking economics. Female children were typically sold for Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh each, while male infants commanded higher prices between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per child. This gender-based pricing disparity reflects the persistent societal preference for male children that traffickers capitalized upon within their criminal enterprise.
Racket Operations and Recent Bust
The inter-state child trafficking operation came to light following a police operation on January 29th that resulted in the rescue of a newborn being transported from Himmatnagar toward Hyderabad. Acting on specific intelligence, a crime branch team intercepted a vehicle near Ahmedabad airport, discovering an infant inside and arresting four individuals:
- Vandana Panchal (34) of Ahmedabad
- Sumit Yadav (27) of Ahmedabad
- Maulik Dave (32) of Ahmedabad
- Roshan Agrawal (42) of Hyderabad
Police investigations revealed the accused operated as part of a larger network that systematically sourced infants from vulnerable families in Gujarat and supplied them to buyers in Telangana.
Modus Operandi and Targeted Communities
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the rescued newborn had been purchased near Himmatnagar for Rs 3.6 lakh and was intended for resale in Hyderabad to an agent identified only as Nagraj. The traffickers primarily targeted tribal pockets in north Gujarat, specifically Banaskantha and Vav-Tharad districts, where poverty and lack of support systems made families susceptible to exploitation.
A senior crime branch officer explained the network's methodology: "These accused persons identified childless couples with the help of their acquaintances in IVF centres in Hyderabad. After identifying a couple willing to pay for a baby, the accused hunted for a child—mostly fair-skinned and good-looking, as stipulated by societal norms."
Victim Profiles and Investigation Developments
Police revealed that many trafficked children were born out of wedlock, with parents seeking to relinquish them. In some instances, parents had died and relatives sold the children to the accused. The rescued newborn has been placed under medical care while authorities continue efforts to trace her biological parents, though initial leads have proven elusive.
Authorities have seized cash, mobile phones, and vehicles from the accused and are analyzing digital data to trace financial transactions and communication networks. The investigation has expanded to determine that at least 10 children from Gujarat were allegedly sold to childless couples in Hyderabad through this network.
Legal Framework and Ongoing Probe
Cases have been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The investigation now focuses on:
- Following the money trail to identify all financial beneficiaries
- Uncovering the role of IVF center contacts in facilitating the trafficking
- Identifying agents operating across state lines in the elaborate network
- Determining the full scope of children trafficked through this operation
This case exposes not only the horrific reality of child trafficking but also the disturbing ways in which societal prejudices regarding skin color and gender are monetized within criminal enterprises, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protective measures and societal awareness.
