FAISALABAD – A woman has confessed to selling as many as 1,200 newbornbabies after kidnapping them from a hospital in Faisalabad during her30-year service, making it the biggest child trafficking racket.
A party of the Civil Lines police station arrested the lady broker during araid at a house after receiving complaints regarding trafficking of infantsin the city. The security officials also recovered a five-day-old baby girland Rs180,000 from the house.
During the interrogation, the suspect identified as Rasheeda Bibi revealedthat she was an employee at Allied Hospital for 30 years and has beeninvolved in the illegal business during this period. She claimed to havesold 1,200 children so far.
A baby boy is sold for Rs300,000 and baby girl for Rs200,000, the accusedsaid, adding that sometimes the newborns were sold in a bid.
The culprit confessed to selling children born out of wedlock in accomplicewith her husband, the police said.
Police said that the arrested suspect claimed that three gynecologists ofthe hospital were also involved in the illegal business. She revealed thata chunk of money earned through the illicit activity was also spent on thegynae ward.
A case against the culprit has been registered and further investigationhas been launched to track the alleged buyers and other members of thepossible ring. A lower court has sent the suspect on judicial remand.
On the other hand, Allied Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Khurram Altafsaid that the woman, whose name has not been disclosed, is an old stafferof the hospital and currently deployed at the outdoor.
He said that the accused has been suspended following the registration ofthe case against her. Further actions will be taken in the light of thecourt orders