In a major breakthrough, Uttar Pradesh Police have busted an inter-state infant trafficking racket and rescued a 9-month-old baby who was allegedly abducted and being prepared for illegal sale across state lines.
According to police sources, the gang operated across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and neighbouring states, targeting vulnerable women travelling alone with infants at railway stations and public places. The accused would allegedly befriend the victims, gain their trust, and then abduct babies before transporting them to other states for illegal adoption deals.
The case came to light after a woman travelling by train reported that her infant son was missing after interacting with unidentified persons during her journey. Acting swiftly, police teams launched an extensive search operation using CCTV footage, railway surveillance data and technical inputs to trace the accused and the child.
Within a short period, police managed to rescue the 9-month-old infant and arrest several members of the trafficking network. Officials said the gang included both men and women, with roles ranging from kidnappers to brokers who arranged buyers for the children.
Investigators further revealed that the racket was not limited to one state, but functioned as a coordinated inter-state network involving middlemen and buyers from different regions. Police suspect that the gang may have been involved in multiple similar cases and are now tracing wider links and additional suspects.
Authorities have also recovered vehicles and other evidence used in the crime. The rescued infant has been sent for medical examination and is currently under the care of child welfare authorities.
Senior police officials described the operation as a significant success in cracking down on organised child trafficking networks. They added that further investigation is underway to identify all members of the syndicate and prevent similar crimes in the future.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over child safety in transit hubs and the growing sophistication of trafficking networks operating across state borders.
