Vijayawada police have uncovered a major child trafficking racket in the city. Acting on specific intelligence, officers arrested 10 people in coordinated raids. Police teams from the Task Force, Bhavanipuram, and Nunn stations carried out the operation.
During the raids, police rescued eight children who were kept for illegal sale. Officers also seized ₹3.30 lakh in cash, believed to be proceeds from the crime.
Key Accused at the Centre of the Network
Investigators identified Bagalam Sarojini (31) as the main accused. She sourced children from Delhi and Mumbai. She then sold them to childless couples in and around Vijayawada for ₹4 lakh to ₹5 lakh each.
Police said Sarojini continued the illegal activity even after securing bail. Earlier, police had booked her in similar cases in Hyderabad and Vijayawada.
Well-Organised Network of Middlemen
The racket involved several men and women. They handled child transport, shelter, and delivery. Police registered cases against the accused at Bhavanipuram, Nunn, and Kothapeta police stations.
Officers booked them under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice Act. Police also said they will invoke the Preventive Detention Act against the key offenders.
Arrests in Delhi and Action in Mumbai
In a major breakthrough, police arrested a woman named Kiran in Delhi. She supplied children to the Sarojini gang. Police also initiated action against the Nuri gang in Mumbai, which formed part of the wider network.
Emotional Moment During Media Briefing
During a media briefing, DCP Sarita comforted one of the rescued infants. The moment moved everyone present. Later, the Police Commissioner praised the Task Force and law-and-order teams for their swift and coordinated action.
