CID arrests 2 members of child trafficking ring, rescues newborn baby girl at Shalimar Station

The West Bengal CID has arrested two individuals involved in an interstate child trafficking operation and rescued a newborn baby girl. Manik Haldar and Mukul Sarkar were arrested outside Shalimar Station in Kolkata while attempting to traffic the two-day-old infant, who had been purchased from Bihar. The CID’s operation led to the immediate rescue of the child, who was being transported for the purpose of illegal trafficking.

The investigation revealed that the trafficking ring was using Facebook groups to facilitate the sale and purchase of children. Sources within the CID confirmed that the baby girl was bought for a significant sum, reportedly in the range of several lakh rupees, and was planned to be trafficked to another state. Female infants were found to be particularly targeted in this operation, with higher prices being demanded for newborn girls. The traffickers had planned to raise the child temporarily before re-trafficking her to another buyer.

The arrested individuals, according to the CID, were part of a larger interstate trafficking network that bought and sold children across various states. The investigation showed that traffickers used different routes, including train stations like Shalimar, to transport the children. Once transported, the children were handed over to other members of the network, who would move them to various locations. The CID is continuing to investigate the broader scope of the network, with a focus on identifying additional individuals involved in the operation.

The CID's investigation was prompted by a tip-off from a confidential source, leading to the creation of a special team that focused on tracking the traffickers. The team set up a trap at Shalimar Station, where the suspects were trying to move the infant. The suspects were apprehended near B-Garden, and the baby girl was successfully rescued. CID officials are now working to uncover the full extent of the trafficking ring and are investigating other potential victims.