In a major breakthrough, the NTR district police have dismantled an organised child trafficking network operating in Vijayawada by arresting 10 accused and rescuing five children during coordinated raids across multiple locations.
Addressing the media on Thursday, NTR District Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu said that the operation initially led to the arrest of eight accused, rescue of four children, and seizure of Rs3.30 lakh in cash. Subsequent questioning resulted in the arrest of two more accused from the Two Town police station limits, leading to the rescue of another child.
According to police, the prime accused Sarojini procured children from Delhi and Mumbai through a network of associates and sold them to childless or infertile couples in and around Vijayawada for large sums. While children were purchased for Rs1–2 lakh, they were sold for Rs4–5 lakh, officials said.
Sarojini is a repeat offender with previous arrests in illegal child trafficking cases registered in Medipally, Gopalapuram (Hyderabad) and Nunna (Vijayawada). Despite being out on bail, she continued her illegal activities.
Another key accused, Garikamukku Vijayalakshmi, has five prior criminal cases registered at police stations in Mangalagiri, Eluru, Kodad, Jangaon and Suryapet. Other accused functioned as middlemen, caretakers, transporters and facilitators, sheltering and moving children on Sarojini’s instructions.
Police said several children sourced from Mumbai and Delhi were being circulated for sale in Bhavanipuram, Nunna and Kothapeta, but timely intervention prevented further trafficking.
Cases have been registered at Bhavanipuram, Nunna and Kothapeta police stations. The Police Commissioner stated that authorities will invoke the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against the accused to prevent recurrence of such crimes.
He commended the Task Force and Law & Order teams for their swift coordination and effective execution of the operation.
