The Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) of the Thane Crime Branch rescued a six-day-old boy on Monday evening, and arrested four people including two women, who had struck a deal for Rs 2 lakh to sell him
Representational picture
The Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) of the Thane Crime Branch rescued a six-day-old boy on Monday evening, and arrested four people including two women, who had struck a deal for Rs 2 lakh to sell him.
ADVERTISEMENT
The arrested accused were identified as Sana Sayed (32), Sana Shaikh (22), Sadik Iqbal Khan (20) and Rohit Laxman Swami alias Sahil Sayed (22). Sahil is Sayed's stepson. All are residents of Mumbra.
After a tip-off
Madhukar Pandey, JCP, Thane, received information about a plan to sell a baby boy. He informed Abhishek Trimukhe, DCP, Thane crime branch. The AHTC arranged a fake customer and contacted Sana Sayed. She avoided meeting at Mumbra, and decided to meet in Thane, at Maharaja Hotel, where the deal was to be finalised.
Laying a trap
Officials laid a trap with the hotel owner, with officers posing as staff. Sana came with the three accused and after confirming a deal, they all went upstairs to a room. Room number 14 was booked for the deal and the police video recorded it for evidence.
Sana Sayed, in her statement to police, later said the boy's mother was a divorcee. "Sayed claims that the mother had a loan of Rs 1.80 lakh to repay. So they planned to sell the boy with Sana Shaikh. They had already planned to go to Hyderabad," said an official.
A case has been registered under sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The baby has been sent to to Janani Ashish Centre in Dombivli East.