Couple trading child trapped, caught red-handed

In an operation conducted at Thokkottu, the police have nabbed the culprits red-handed while fixing a deal for an infant.

Jesse(42) from Pajir, in Bantwal taluk, his wife Lenita and mother of the child, which was being sold, Rangawwa from Badami have been arrested. Three-month old baby, which was being sold, has been rescued.

The child helpline had received a call informing that children are being sold from a house at Kallakatte in Bajal area. Immediately, the Child Line officials reached the said house in Bajal and saw that a three-month-old baby was all set to be sold. However accused Joswi-Lenita couple argued that they were the parents of the child and produced several documents to establish the same. The Child Line members who left the place inquired about the same with the neighbours and learnt that even in the past several children had been sold from the same place.

Meanwhile, Anganwadi Assistant Rehana had tipped the child line with crucial information about Lucy, mother of Lenita having come to the centre some time ago, saying that they had got a month old baby at the quarrying site and they would like to sell it off. Now the child line was determined to nab the culprits red-handed and in this connection they sought the help of Rehana, the anganwadi assistant.

With directions from Police Commissioner Manish Karbikar and SP Abhishek Goyal, DCIB and CCB police were deployed. Meanwhile, Rehana called up Lenita and said that one of her relatives who stay abroad has been longing to have a child and they were ready to shell out any amount to get a baby purchased from India. A fake couple was sent, and Rehana convinced Lenita to see to it that her relatives who have come from abroad do not return without a child.

The entire trap was laid over 12 days and on Friday, Jesse-Lenita couple fell into it at Thokkottu when the fake couple handed over token amount for the baby. The police and child line officials nabbed the child traders red-handed.

Duplication of documents

Lenita and Jessehave a three-month old baby. Ironically, the couple had duplicated their child's birth documents for the baby of a quarry worker Rangawwa too.

Rangawwa is said to have married in Badami but has been in an illegitimate relation with a youth working at the quarry site. The child is born out of her illegitimate relationship and hence she wanted to get rid of the baby.

Deal for Rs 2 lac

The police sought help of a social workers to pretend as a buyer. The social worker had demanded Lenita for the child at the earliest and Lenita had promised to give a child within 10 days.

Lenita had asked the buyer to come to Thokkottu health centre to see the baby and had asked the couple to bring Rs 75,000 along with them as token amount for the baby. However, when the fake couple handed over the money to Lenita and Jessethe police intercepted and nabbed the culprits.

Lenita had been claiming that she was associated with Human Rights Organisation and also possessed an ID card of a news daily published from Delhi.