Hyderabad Police foils bid to sell 4-day-old girl, arrests woman in sting operation

According to the police, the accused, Waheeda Khatoon, allegedly approached a woman named Meharunnisa and offered to sell the infant.

In Short

• Newborn was allegedly offered for Rs 6 lakh before price was reduced to Rs 5 lakh
• Social activist assisted police in laying a trap, leading to baby's safe rescue
• Probe on to identify others involved in the suspected child trafficking attempt

Hyderabad Police rescued a four-day-old baby girl after officials foiled an alleged attempt to sell the newborn in a sting operation, leading to the arrest of a woman accused of trying to broker the deal.

According to the police, the accused, identified as Waheeda Khatoon, a resident of Chandrayangutta in the old city of Hyderabad, approached a woman named Meharunnisa at Peeli Dargah in Barkas and offered to sell the infant. Investigators said the newborn was initially priced at Rs 6 lakh, but the amount was later reduced to Rs 5 lakh during negotiations.

The transaction was first planned to take place in the city’s Shaheen Nagar area before the location was shifted to an area near JGR Function Hall in Pahadi Shareef.

Acting on specific information, the police launched a swift operation with the assistance of social activist Safiya Mahi, who cooperated with officers in laying a trap to intercept the deal.

Police said they moved in just as the claimed transaction was about to take place, rescuing the baby girl unharmed and arresting Waheeda Khatoon on the spot.

During the investigation, police found that the infant's biological mother, a resident of Golconda, had delivered the baby on Tuesday and had been discharged from a hospital in Malakpet on the day the rescue operation was carried out.

Authorities are now investigating the circumstances that led to the attempt to sell the newborn and whether a larger child trafficking network was involved. Police are also examining the role of any intermediaries or prospective buyers linked to the case.

The local police said further investigation is underway, and additional arrests have not been ruled out as they probe the suspected trafficking attempt.

- Ends