A doctor from Kittur among five detained for child trafficking

BELAGAVI: Police have arrested five people, including a registered doctor, in connection with child trafficking. They are Dr Abdul Ladakhan, from Kittur, Mahadevi Jain alias Priyanka Jain from Neginhal, Chandana Subedar, Pavithra and Praveen.

The gang is said to target women who have become pregnant before marriage and want to have an abortion. When the women were 7-8 months pregnant, they operated on them and discharged them while Dr Abdul Ladakhan took care of the babies for 2-3 months and then sold them for huge sums ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1, 5 lakh.

After getting information, the district child protection officer laid a trap and contacted Mahadevi Jain and struck a deal for Rs 1.4 lakh. The team asked him to bring the child to Ramathirth Nagar. When the gang arrived there, they were arrested by the police. Mahadevi had bought the child from the doctor for Rs 60,000.

Pavithra and Praveen were in a physical relationship and she was eight months pregnant. Fearing the consequences if his parents found out, they contacted Dr Abdul Ladakhan in Kittur who charged Rs 20,000 for the operation. He then sold the baby to Mahadevi for Rs 60,000.

Health department officials, including Taluk Health Officer SS Siddannavar, visited Dr Abdul Somwarpet's house in Kittur on Monday. At that time, local residents surrounded them and demanded to know how Dr. Abdul got the license to practice medicine. They also demanded strict action against him.