Child trafficking racket busted, 5 arrested

Lucknow, May 27: Five persons were arrested for allegedly running a child trafficking racket and a toddler rescued from their possession in Wazirganj locality here, police said today (May 27).

Acting on a tip-off, the members of the gang, identified as Raza Hussain, his wife Hashiba Khatoon (both from Bihar), Shakeel Ahmad, his sister Shakeela and another aid Atiq were arrested on Thursday, they said, adding that a one-year-old girl Alisha was also recovered from their possession.

During interrogation, they said that they used to roam as beggars and lift children of slum dwellers and sell them to a Bihar-based begging gang at Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000, they said.

They confessed to their involvement in picking up over 15 children from the city, police said.

Meanwhile, the further investigation is on and a man hunt has been launched to nab the other absconding members of the gang, they added.

PTI