Belagavi
An 8-month-old baby, who was rescued by police from a child trafficking racket a week ago, died in BIMS district hospital. Police had arrested five persons, including a quack and a nurse, who allegedly sold babies to wealthy individuals, in the case.
Dr Shailesh Patil, a paediatrician at BIMS hospital said, the 8-month-old baby, weighing 1,200gms, was suffering from breathing problem and septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning, since birth.
Sources said a woman delivered the baby prematurely at a clinic run by the quack in Kittur town. After 30 days, one of the accused, Mahadevi Jain, a nurse from Neginahal village, attempted to sell the baby. Posing as potential buyers, Police trapped the gang. The baby was rescued and admitted to BIMS hospital.
Last Sunday, officials from three departments, led by Assistant Commissioner Prabhavati Fakirpur, along with Tahsildar Ravindra Hadimani, District Health Officer Dr Mahesh Koni and DySP Ravi Naik, conducted a raid on the farmhouse of the main accused, Abdulgafar Ladakhan, in Basaragod village. Investigations have revealed that Ladakhan, posing as an MBBS doctor, had been performing abortions and deliveries illegally in his clinic. During the search, the officials found remains of three foetuses buried on the farmhouse premises.
