Earlier attempts to bust kidney racket had failed

NOIDA, May 12: Though The Noida police succeeded in busting a major kidney transplant racket on May 9 by arresting 10 persons including four...

NOIDA, May 12: Though The Noida police succeeded in busting a major kidney transplant racket on May 9 by arresting 10 persons including four senior officials of the Noida Medicare Centre, a city hospital, this was not the first attempt by the police to bust the racket.

The previous Senior Superintendent of Police SSP of the district, Daljeet Singh Chaudhary, made three attempts to get to the roots of the sordid racket through a decoy customer. However, none of the operations could materialize due to different reasons, said the sources.

After being tipped-off about the kidney racket operating in the city by this reporter, Chaudhary gathered information about the modus operandi of the racket and set a trap in a park near the Connaught Place area but this did not work out. Then it was decided that a sub-inspector would be sent as a decoy to the hospital. But, later it was pointed out that the officer entrusted with the task had been investigating the incident of looting in the house of Sadhna Sood, Executive Director of NMC, and almost all the employees at the NMC recognised the officer. This incident of looting had taken place on Sept 25 last year.

After a few days Chaudhary deputed a gazetted police officer to go to the hospital as a decoy but just two days before this move someone introduced that officer to a senior official of the hospital at a function in the city and the plan was aborted. One more attempt was made through a businessman. This businessman had agreed to be a decoy but the plan did not work out. Then came the general elections and the police had to postpone the raids. Chaudhary was shifted to Etah after the elections.

IMA institutes enquiry into illegal trade of kidneys THE Indian Medical Association IMA has instituted an enquiry into the illegal trade of kidneys at the Noida Medical Centre. The doctors at the centre have been charged with wrongful confinement, cheating and endangering the life of a person and violating the Human Organs Transplantation Act, 1954.

While acknowledging the reality of commercial transplantations, the IMA said: 8220;The complaint that the kidneys have been stolen without the knowledge or consent of the complainants is scientifically not possible. It seems more like cases of the seller not receiving adequate compensation and filing a complaint on second thoughts.8221;

IMA honarary general secretary Dr Prem Aggarwal said, 8220;IMA strongly feels, while the medical profession should not indulge in any violation of the Human Organs Transplant Act all over the country, these charges made by the not-so-innocent donors are not tenable.8221;

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According to the IMA: 8220;It has been an open secret that commercial transactions have been regularly taking place between patients suffering from chronic renal failure 8212; who need kidney transplantation 8212; and needy people who are willing to sell their kidney for a price.8221;

The act was framed to ensure that human organs were donated only by willing donors, and also so that no commercial transaction takes place. However, this act has been repeatedly violated by unscrupulous doctors and touts. The implementation of the act is the responsibility of the State Government. However, IMA said: 8220;Unfortunately, due to non-adoption, the act is still not applicable in Bihar and UP. As a result sale of organs is continuing illegally in these two states.8221;

The probe committee comprises president of UP state branch Dr Satwant Singh and secretary of the UP state branch Dr V.C. Rastogi.