4 held for trying to sell newborn baby

Three members of a family and an 'aya' (nursing help) were today arrested for allegedly trying to sell a newborn in Medinipore Medical College.

Posing as customers of the newborn girl, members of a special police team arrested 51-year-old Shibani Dey, the 'aya', and three members of a family, SP, West Midnapore, Bharati Ghosh told PTI.

"Three members of the family have been arrested along with the aya by our officers when they were trying to sell off the baby born to their unmarried daughter at the Medinipore Medical College," Ghosh said.

It was learnt that Shibani was looking after the baby girl after she was born Saturday.
 

"As the baby was born to their unmarried girl, family members were trying to get rid of it and fixed a deal with the aya," a senior police officer of the district said.

Learning it from a source, the special team of police contacted Shibani and struck a deal to purchase the girl at Rs 5,000, he said.

When the team of police personnel reached the place, Shibani was caught red-handed with the baby, the officer said.

Incidentally, parents of the minor who gave birth to the girl registered themselves as the baby's "parents" at the Medical College.

Asked whether the case has any link to the international child racket busted by the CID from North 24 Parganas district's Baduria, Ghosh said, "We are looking into the matter. If needed we will inform the CID."

Meanwhile, Burdwan district administration officials raided four nursing homes of the district after the state decided to increase surveillance.

Two nursing homes were sealed for violating norms and three persons were arrested for their alleged illegal links to these medical facilities.

"We have done this earlier also. This is a part of our regular programme. We will continue doing so," District Magistrate Saumitra Mohan said.