Ludhiana Newborn Trafficking Case: Two-Day-Old Baby Sold for ₹2.10 Lakh, Five Arrested :
Prime Vista News
Five arrested in Ludhiana after a two-day-old baby girl was allegedly sold for ₹2.10 lakh. Police probe role of mother, doctor and intermediaries.
A two-day-old baby girl was allegedly sold for ₹2.10 lakh in Punjab’s Ludhiana district, prompting the arrest of five individuals, including the child’s biological mother and a BAMS doctor. Police say the case points to a suspected network of intermediaries involved in illegal infant transactions.
The matter surfaced on Sunday after local residents noticed a woman carrying a crying newborn at a park on Neela Jhanda Road. According to investigators, her behaviour appeared suspicious, leading bystanders to question her. During the exchange, she allegedly disclosed that the baby had been purchased for ₹2.10 lakh. Residents then alerted the police, triggering an immediate response.
Officers reached the location and began questioning those present, which led to the unraveling of what police describe as an organised arrangement to facilitate the infant’s sale.
Birth and Alleged Transaction
Police officials said the baby girl was born on February 13 at Arora Nursing Home near Baba Than Singh Chowk in Ludhiana. She was just two days old at the time of the alleged handover.
Those arrested have been identified as Sunita Devi, the child’s mother and a resident of Sherpur Kalan; Parveen, a resident of Khud Mohalla; Manmeet Kaur, a BAMS doctor residing in Punjab Mata Nagar; Ruchi, a resident of Daba Road; and Mandeep Kaur, a resident of Nangal village in Moga district. Police said Sunita Devi is originally from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP-1) Sameer Verma said preliminary findings suggest that Sunita Devi already has four daughters. When she conceived again, her husband was reportedly unhappy with the pregnancy.
“According to the investigation, the mother decided to give the child away after birth,” ADCP Verma said. “She contacted a nurse at the hospital, who then connected her with intermediaries.”
Alleged Chain of Contacts
Investigators stated that Sunita Devi allegedly approached Asha, a nurse at the nursing home, seeking assistance. Asha is said to have contacted Parveen, described as a nurse and domestic worker from Khud Mohalla.
Police allege that Parveen then contacted Gurmeet Kaur, a nurse from Ajitwal village in Moga district. Gurmeet reportedly reached out to an ASHA worker from Amritsar, identified as Pamma, who was believed to have access to medical professionals and potential adoptive parties.
According to the police account, the ASHA worker informed Manmeet Kaur, a BAMS doctor residing in Punjab Mata Nagar, about the availability of a newborn for adoption through informal means. When the doctor was unable to find a prospective family directly, she allegedly contacted her neighbour Ruchi at her maternal home in Mohalla Sant Kabir Nagar.
Ruchi, who works as a caretaker, then approached Mandeep Kaur, a resident of Nangal village in Moga district. Police said Mandeep had earlier expressed interest in adopting a child and allegedly agreed to the transaction.
Investigators claim that Mandeep was told she would need to pay ₹2.10 lakh-₹1.5 lakh intended for the child’s mother and ₹60,000 to be distributed among intermediaries as commission. She allegedly travelled to Ludhiana to complete the exchange.
On February 15, all parties reportedly gathered at the Neela Jhanda Road park for the handover. The crying infant and unusual activity reportedly drew the attention of local residents, leading to intervention before the transaction could proceed further.
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Investigation and Further Action
“All five accused have been arrested,” ADCP Verma confirmed, adding that the role of medical staff at the nursing home is under scrutiny. “If further involvement is established, strict legal action will follow.”
Police have indicated that the investigation is ongoing to determine whether additional individuals were involved and whether similar cases have occurred previously.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about illegal adoption practices and vulnerabilities in monitoring systems around private healthcare facilities. Authorities say further details will emerge as the probe continues.
For now, the infant has been placed under protective care while legal proceedings move forward.
