11 arrested as police bust interstate human trafficking gang, two newborns rescued

Eleven members of an interstate human trafficking gang were arrested for their involvement in the illegal procurement and sale of babies. Two infants were rescued in a joint operation carried out by Miyapur police and the Shamshabad Special Operation Team (SOT) on Wednesday December 24.

The accused were identified as Vemula Babu Reddy, 49, a resident of Medchal in Malkajgiri district and native of Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh; Venkipally Gangadhar Reddy, 39, a resident of Secunderabad and native of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh; Daram Laxmi, 28 of Manuguru in Bhadradri Kothagudem district; Ram Hari Roy, 37, a resident of Jeedimetla and native of Shivannagar village in Bihar; Kummari Harsha Roy, 31 of Prashanth Nagar, Moosapet; Sangeeta Debi, 33 of Jagadgirigutta; Gudepu Sujatha, 40 of Narapally and native of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh; Suraboina Anuradha, 55 of Secunderabad and native of Siddipet district; Esarapu Jyothi, 35 of Begumpet and native of Nalgonda district; V Madhavi, 28 of Chintal, Hyderabad; and Pothula Sobha, 44 of Musheerabad and native of Nagarkurnool district.

Police said that the accused had formed an organised network and illegally procured newborn babies from poor families who were unable to meet basic needs. The infants were then allegedly sold to affluent, childless couples for large sums through a well-established chain of middlemen.

Investigation revealed that Babu Reddy, an IVF agent, and Gangadhar Reddy are habitual offenders. While Babu Reddy is involved in at least two cases in Alwal and Devarakonda police station limits, Gangadhar Reddy was found to be involved in at least 18 cases across Cyberabad, Rachakonda and Hyderabad police jurisdictions, including offences under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act.

In the present case, Gangadhar Reddy, along with his associates, procured a newborn from Ahmedabad in Gujarat by paying money to the biological parents through middlemen, with an intention of selling the infant later in Hyderabad. In a similar operation, Babu Reddy allegedly coordinated with Gangadhar Reddy and other associates to procure another infant from Ramanpet in Siddipet district, again by paying intermediaries, to sell the baby to needy couples for a high price.

The arrests were made while the accused were in the process of selling the infants, police said. The two rescued newborns were handed over to Sishu Vihar, Ameerpet, for safe custody.

Further investigation is underway.