Kittur doctor among five held for running child trafficking racket

BELAGAVI: The police have arrested five people, including a registered medical practitioner, in connection with a child trafficking racket. They are Dr Abdul Ladakhan, of Kittur, Mahadevi Jain alias Priyanka Jain of Neginhal, Chandana Subedar, Pavithra and Praveen.

The gang would target women who had got pregnant prior to marriage and who were keen to undergo an abortion. When the women were 7-8 months pregnant, they would operate on them and send them away while Dr Abdul Ladakhan would take care of the babies for 2-3 months and then sell them for huge sums ranging between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh.

Dr Abdul Ladakhan’s house in Kittur where he would conduct abortions.

On getting information, the district child protection officer laid a trap and contacted Mahadevi Jain and struck a deal for Rs 1.4 lakh. The team asked her to bring the child to Ramathirth Nagar. When the gang arrived there, they were nabbed by the officers. Mahadevi had bought the child from the doctor for Rs 60,000.

Pavithra and Praveen were in a physical relationship and she was eight months pregnant. Afraid of the consequences if her parents came to know about it, they approached Dr Abdul Ladakhan in Kittur who charged Rs 20,000 for the operation. He had then sold the baby to Mahadevi for Rs 60,000.

Residents of Kittur demanded strict action against the doctor.

Health Department officials, including Taluk Health Officer S S Siddannavar, on Monday visited the house of Dr Abdul Somwarpet in Kittur. At this time, local residents surrounded them and demanded to know how Dr Abdul was given permission to practice medicine. They also demanded strict action against him.