In a significant breakthrough, the Hukkeri police have dismantled another child trafficking ring in Belagavi district, arresting three individuals. The gang primarily targeted widows, exploiting their vulnerabilities by arranging second marriages and subsequently selling their children. The arrested individuals have been identified as Sangeeta Gowli, Sangeeta Tawade, and Mohan Tawade, all residents of Maharashtra. Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused, Nandakumar Doralekar and Nandini Doralekar.
The latest case involved Archana, a resident of Sultanpur village in Hukkeri taluk. Archana, who remarried Raju Magdum, had a baby boy from her first marriage. The unwell infant became a target of the gang. The Tawade couple persuaded Archana to send the child to Gadhinglaj in Maharashtra, claiming they would arrange medical treatment. However, instead of aiding the child, the couple sold the baby to the Doralekar family for ₹3 lakh at Sangeeta Gowli’s residence in Gadhinglaj. The accused then shared the proceeds from the sale.
This isn’t the first instance of such heinous crimes in the region. Just a week ago, another widow, also named Sangeeta, was a victim of the same gang. Her firstborn child from a prior marriage was sold for ₹4 lakh after her second marriage was arranged. Hukkeri police have already arrested four people connected to this earlier incident.
The Hukkeri police, led by their diligent team, have registered cases in both incidents and are actively pursuing the remaining suspects. Their commitment to dismantling the network has brought much-needed focus to the alarming trend of child trafficking in the area.