Ludhiana: Probe into the alleged sale of a newborn baby girl in Ludhiana has revealed that BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) graduate Manmeet Kaur, who is accused to have struck the deal, may have been involved in at least two other baby sales.Police are also investigating if Moga-based Mandeep Kaur, who was to get the infant, genuinely wanted the baby for herself or if she planned to sell her off. Mandeep had paid Rs 2.1 lakh to Manmeet, owner of a clinic, for the baby, saying she is desperate for a child as she is childless after eight years of marriage.Of the five suspects arrested so far, mother Sunita Devi, 32, and her friend Praveen were remanded in jail on Tuesday, while Dr Manmeet, Mandeep, and Manmeet’s friend Ruchi were remanded in police custody for three days for interrogation. Police teams conducted raids on Tuesday in search of three more suspects — an Asha worker named Pamma from Amritsar, Asha, a nurse at the private hospital where Sunita delivered the baby, and her aide Gurmeet Kaur of Moga. Investigators are also checking if Sunita’s husband had any knowledge of the baby sale deal. Sunita has five daughters and allegedly planned to sell off the youngest just three days after her birth.“Our probe indicates that BAMS graduate Manmeet Kaur was involved in selling children earlier too. As per initial details, one baby was sold about 10 months ago and another a few years ago. Investigation is on to collect more information on both cases,” an official probing the case shared with TOI.“Besides, the Moga woman who claims she wanted the baby for herself is not from a well-off family, so how did she manage to pay Rs 2.1 lakh to the accused for the baby? That’s also part of our investigation,” he added According to police, Sunita did not want to keep her fifth daughter, and discussed it with her friend Praveen, who spoke to nurse Asha. It was the nurse who approached Manmeet, who asked her friend Ruchi to arrange for someone who needed a baby. With the help of Moga resident Gurmeet Kaur, Ruchi found Mandeep. The accused got Mandeep to transfer Rs 2.1 lakh to Manmeet, who was to distribute it among the accused. Police are also checking any possible role of the private hospital in this unsettling case. —
