Pic Courtesy: EenaduIndia/Bangla
In spite of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's repeated warnings at several administrative meetings, earlier on child trafficking, the state still contributes to almost 45 percent of the country's child trafficking cases between 2012-17. The present racket busted at the Siliguri district hospital reflects the rising cases of child trafficking in the state.
The state and social welfare department on a tip off, discovered the unborn child-trafficking racket on Wednesday. A hospital staff is suspected to be involved in this case who is yet to be traced.
Tara Roy, a construction worker from Jalpaiguri's Jaleswari, is the mother of two children. On Sunday, Tara gave birth to her third child at the Siliguri district hospital. Earlier, she gave her consent over the selling of her child. On the basis of her consent, a female worker from Jalpaiguri's tea factory was ready to adopt Tara's baby.
The deal to sell the baby to the worker was finalised much before Tara's baby was born. The deal was allegedly finalised by a hospital staff. The woman had also provided a sum of Rs 3.5 thousand for the health treatment of the baby.
Meanwhile, the news of this deal spread among the social activists. Soon it also reached the members of the District Child Welfare Committee. Both the activists and the committee members spoke to both the families involved in the business. But, both the families denied the allegations.
Social activist Somnath Chatterjee visited Tara on Wednesday. After meeting the mother, Somnath said, "They are unaware of the law, for which they were unknowingly trading their baby. We have protested soon after we came to know. This racket was on with the help of a hospital staff. An official of the court is also involved. A search operation has been launched for these two accused."
The activist also informed, " The baby has been admitted to the sick Neo-natal Care Unit as she is sick. We have informed both the families against the illegal selling and buying of a baby. If this still persists, then the administration will take necessary steps against them under the human trafficking law."
The state and social welfare department on a tip off, discovered the unborn child-trafficking racket on Wednesday. A hospital staff is suspected to be involved in this case who is yet to be traced.
Tara Roy, a construction worker from Jalpaiguri's Jaleswari, is the mother of two children. On Sunday, Tara gave birth to her third child at the Siliguri district hospital. Earlier, she gave her consent over the selling of her child. On the basis of her consent, a female worker from Jalpaiguri's tea factory was ready to adopt Tara's baby.
The deal to sell the baby to the worker was finalised much before Tara's baby was born. The deal was allegedly finalised by a hospital staff. The woman had also provided a sum of Rs 3.5 thousand for the health treatment of the baby.
Meanwhile, the news of this deal spread among the social activists. Soon it also reached the members of the District Child Welfare Committee. Both the activists and the committee members spoke to both the families involved in the business. But, both the families denied the allegations.
Social activist Somnath Chatterjee visited Tara on Wednesday. After meeting the mother, Somnath said, "They are unaware of the law, for which they were unknowingly trading their baby. We have protested soon after we came to know. This racket was on with the help of a hospital staff. An official of the court is also involved. A search operation has been launched for these two accused."
The activist also informed, " The baby has been admitted to the sick Neo-natal Care Unit as she is sick. We have informed both the families against the illegal selling and buying of a baby. If this still persists, then the administration will take necessary steps against them under the human trafficking law."
