Kids shifted from shelter with baby seller link

TT, Calcutta, Nov. 26: Health officials and police shifted 20 children, aged between one and seven years, out of an old age home in Dostipur, South 24-Parganas, today as a man arrested in the baby-sale racket has links to it.

Since Bimal Adhikary, arrested yesterday, is attached to the home and is suspected of transporting 10 infants to a home for the mentally ill in Thakurpukur on November 10, the police didn't want to take any chances. They shifted the children to another home in nearby Mandirbazar.

"Officials at the Dostipur home produced documents to say the children had been brought on the recommendation of the Child Welfare Committee, but they need to be checked to see they aren't forged," a CID officer said.

Adhikary, the owner of Joka Millenium Old Age Home and Rehabilitation Centre, was produced in court today and remanded in the CID's custody for 10 days.

Later in the day, the police arrested one of his close aides associated with the Dostipur home, Basanti Chakraborty, in connection with the baby-sale racket.

"Adhikary had been engaged in this illegal trade for more than two decades. He has strong connections with nursing homes and NGOs in North and South 24-Parganas. Besides, his men are attached to several homes in Calcutta and its neighbouring areas. These are used by traffickers to keep infants," B.L. Meena, the CID deputy inspector-general, said.

Investigations are on to find out if Adhikary is the owner of the Dostipur home as well, another officer said.

The racket was busted on Monday night when CID officers raided Sohan Nursing Home and Polyclinic at Baduria, North 24-Parganas, and found three stolen newborns in a biscuit carton.