Gynaecologist at Tamil Nadu govt hospital held along with broker over sale of newborns
Health Minister Ma Subramanian says poor women who already had two children were brainwashed by brokers into selling their male newborns for Rs 5,000 and female newborns for Rs 3,000.
Namakkal police arrested gynaecologist Dr Anuradha and broker Logambal over sale of newborns. (Representational Photo) A government doctor and a broker who were allegedly involved in the sale of newborns at Tiruchengode in Tamil Nadu’s Namakkal district have been arrested by police, who also believe the duo are part of an illegal kidney racket as well.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian said Monday that the Namakkal police arrested gynaecologist Dr Anuradha and broker Logambal on Sunday following directions from District Collector Dr Uma, who had received information about the illegal activity in Tiruchengode. Logambal had been involved in baby sales for over a decade, according to the minister.
Explaining the duo’s modus operandi, Subramanian said that poor women who already had two children and delivered a third one were brainwashed by brokers into selling their newborns. Male babies were sold for Rs 5,000 and female babies for Rs 3,000, he said.
“We have formed a committee comprising senior police officials and officials from the health department to inquire into whether this illegal activity had taken place only at the Tiruchengode (government) hospital or whether it had happened at other places as well,” he told reporters, adding that the officials had also learnt that the accused were involved in an illegal kidney racket as well.
Subramanian said that Dr Anuradha had been suspended from services since her arrest and that further departmental action would be initiated against her. “No one who is found to be involved in this will be spared. We will initiate departmental and legal action against them, the minister added.
Share
