Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Jul 26: In a major breakthrough against child trafficking, Chennai police have uncovered a suspected trafficking racket in Puzhal, leading to the rescue of two children—including a two-year-old girl—and the arrest of three women.

The operation was launched after Karthik, a local resident, informed Puzhal Police that an unidentified woman had approached him with an offer to sell a male child for Rs 12 lakh. Disturbed by the proposal, Karthik tipped off Inspector Rajinikanth, who registered a case and initiated a covert operation.

Acting on police guidance, Karthik kept in touch with the woman, who demanded Rs 10 lakh for the child’s mother and Rs 2 lakh for herself. She agreed to deliver the child at a fixed location in Puzhal.

As per the plan, the woman arrived on a two-wheeler with the child. Police, waiting in disguise nearby, swiftly intercepted and brought her in for questioning. She claimed the child belonged to a friend and she was only assisting in the process.

Further investigation led officers to a house in Ambattur, where another woman and a two-year-old girl were found. The second child was also allegedly being readied for sale.

All three women were taken into custody. Preliminary probes indicate that one of them, estranged from her husband and facing severe financial distress, had planned to sell her own child with help from the other two.

Photos of several children were recovered from one of the accused’s mobile phones, hinting at a wider trafficking network. Police are probing whether the children were kidnapped, abandoned, or acquired by other illegal means.

The rescued children have been transferred to child welfare authorities, and officials say more arrests are likely as investigations continue.