Patna: In a major breakthrough, Patna police have busted a gang involved in stealing children and selling them to childless couples. Eight people, including three women, have been arrested in connection with the racket. Police said the gang operated in Bihar as well as other states and sold children for amounts ranging between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh.
The case came to light after a six-month-old baby girl, kidnapped from Patna Junction on August 23, was rescued from Nalanda. Another child was also recovered from the accused, though its origins are yet to be identified.
Modus Operandi: Hospitals and Railway Stations Were Prime Targets
According to Railway DIG Rajiv Ranjan, the gang mainly targeted women traveling alone with infants at hospitals and railway stations. Members of the group befriended unsuspecting mothers and, at the right moment, stole the child.
Three women were part of the gang, and their role was to take care of the kidnapped children until they were sold.
“Initial investigations suggest that childless couples used to contact this gang. Based on demand—whether for a boy or a girl—the gang would steal and sell children for a price ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh,” DIG Ranjan said.
How the Case Unfolded
The probe began with the case of a woman from Aurangabad district. She had boarded the Kota-Patna Express on August 22 along with her infant. A man, later identified as accused Ranjit, struck up a conversation and gained her trust during the journey.
On reaching Patna Junction, the woman went to the washroom, leaving her six-month-old with Ranjit. When she returned, both the man and her child were missing. A complaint was lodged at GRP Patna on August 23, and the railway police began an intensive investigation with cyber cell support.
Police in Plain Clothes Nabbed the Gang
After tracing the suspects’ location, the police laid a trap on September 3 in Patna. Officers dressed in plain clothes, wearing half-pants and T-shirts, parked their vehicles at a distance and approached the hideout. The gang failed to recognize them, allowing the police to safely rescue the child and arrest the culprits.
Deal Exposed: Child Sold for Rs 2 Lakh
Investigations revealed that Sanjeet Vishwakarma of Ekangarasrai in Nalanda, who had been childless for 15 years, struck a deal for Rs 2 lakh through agent Munna Bind. Munna reportedly paid Rs 60,000 to Ranjit for kidnapping the child.
Ranjit, as per plan, targeted the woman in Kota and brought the stolen child to Patna. Police also found CCTV footage showing Ranjit returning to Patna Junction after the kidnapping, further confirming his involvement.
Arrested Accused
Those arrested include broker Munna Bind and his son, the main accused Ranjit, three women identified as Babita, Kaushalya, and Anita, Vishnu, and buyer Sanjeet Vishwakarma.
Wider Network Under Probe
Police suspect that the gang has links across Bihar, Rajasthan, Kolkata, and states bordering Bihar. Investigations are underway to track other members, with reports suggesting one accused is still absconding and may be attempting another kidnapping.
Authorities are also checking how many children have gone missing from railway stations in the past six to eight months to establish the gang’s full scale of operations.
Relief for Farmers, Trouble for Traffickers
While the rescued infant has been reunited with her family, the identity of the second child found with the gang is being verified. Police are continuing interrogation to uncover more details and possible involvement in other child trafficking cases.
