3 held after baby sellers fight on road in Kovai

The accused persons, Zakir Hussain (33), an auto driver from Madukkarai near Coimbatore, Haseena (35), a retired nurse and Kalyani (35) from Erode district were the key conspirators behind the illegal racket.

The police said several cases were already pending against the trio for involving in baby trafficking incidents in Western districts. Police said a childless couple had approached Zakir Hussain seeking help to get a baby. “He then approached the two women brokers, who agreed to arrange a male baby for Rs 3 lakh. On Tuesday, Haseena and Kalyani asked Zakir to get the baby after payment at Karumathampatty area,” police said.

The two women turned up at the spot, but did not hand over the baby and asked him to come to Sulur in the evening. When Zakir went to Sulur, the two women came in a car accompanied by the baby’s parents Kannan (36) and Gomathy (30), natives of Madurai.

“Zakir too got into the car and gave Rs 2 lakh, while promising to give the remaining amount later. A quarrel ensued when Zakir asked for his commission and the two women asked him to get his share after making the full payment,” police said.

Irritated by their heated quarrel, the car driver forced them to get down at Pappampatty ‘pirivu.’ The public, who gathered on seeing them fighting over baby selling issue had informed the Sulur police.

The cops immediately rushed to the spot and picked them all and inquiries revealed that they all were involved in the baby selling racket.

After investigations by the sleuths of Anti-Child Trafficking Wing and Child Welfare Committee officials, the Karumathampatty police arrested the two women and the auto driver. The baby was then handed over to parents, who told police that they agreed to sell the 40 days old infant due to poverty.

Police said Zakir has a strong network with gangs involved in baby selling rackets in Tirunelveli, Madurai and Erode districts. “He confessed to have sold babies in Kerala. Similarly Haseena and Kalyani were also facing cases of abduction and for being part of the baby selling ring. Of them Haseena had worked as a nurse in several hospitals in Namakkal district. She used to lured several poor women to sell off their babies and is facing cases in both Namakkal and Erode districts,” police said.