The Thane Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) recently made a significant rescue operation that saved a 42-day-old baby girl from traffickers. Four individuals were arrested, including the baby’s biological mother, for attempting to sell the infant for ₹4 lakh. The arrests took place in Sahajanand Chowk in Kalyan West.
The accused individuals were identified as Dipali Anil Dusing (27), the infant’s mother, Vaishali Kishor Sonawane (35), a middlewoman, Rekha Balu Sonawane (32), and Kishor Ramesh Sonawane (34), an autorickshaw driver.
The rescue operation was conducted after receiving a tip-off. Senior inspector Chetna Chaudhary and sub-inspector Snehal Shinde led the AHTU team in a sting operation. A decoy client posed as a buyer and contacted Vaishali, who confirmed the availability of the baby girl for ₹4 lakh. The meeting was arranged near Sahajanand Chowk for the transaction, where the AHTU team apprehended all four accused as they presented the infant to the decoy client.
Further investigations revealed that Dipali, the infant’s mother, lived near Kalyan railway station with her four children. After being abandoned by her husband and living on a railway bridge while relying on begging for survival, she decided to sell her infant for ₹1.20 lakh.
The three other children of Dipali, a 5-year-old son, and two daughters aged 7 and 9, were immediately taken into protective custody. The boy was placed in Janani Ashish Balgruha in Dombivli MIDC, while the two girls were taken to Neela Balsadan in Ambernath.
The Mahatma Phule police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act to ensure justice is served in this case. This successful rescue operation highlights the importance of vigilant efforts in combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation. It is crucial to continue raising awareness and taking action to prevent such crimes and ensure the safety and well-being of all members of society.
