Guwahati: Tinsukia is reeling from a shocking case of alleged infant trafficking, with a health department employee arrested and a police constable under intense scrutiny for their suspected roles in the sale of a newborn baby. The unsettling incident has sent ripples through the state, raising serious questions about the integrity of public servants and the vulnerability of new mothers.
The sordid tale began on July 13, when a woman from Bordumsa, identified only as Moran, delivered a baby at the Margherita First Referral Unit civil hospital. In a baffling turn of events, the mother reportedly absconded from the facility with her newborn, bypassing all official discharge procedures. The baby’s whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, setting the stage for the dark events to follow.
The case came to a head on July 23, when the infant was allegedly handed over to Shiuji Tiwari, a police constable attached to the Tinsukia Superintendent of Police’s office. This illicit exchange, sources claim, was brokered by Jinamoni Gohain, a health worker, in what is believed to be a transaction for a considerable sum of money. The baby’s fate, now in the hands of an unauthorized individual, remained precarious.
The elaborate scheme began to unravel on July 25, when the infant, ailing and in distress, was brought to the Tinsukia Civil Hospital. The sharp-eyed medical staff, noting the suspicious circumstances, immediately alerted authorities. Prompt action by the District Child Protection Department saw the newborn taken into protective custody and a formal complaint lodged with the Tinsukia Sadar Police Station, setting off a chain of events that would expose the dark underbelly of this case.
Acting on the complaint, police apprehended Jinamoni Gohain, the health worker, on Friday from the very hospital where she was employed. The arrest, however, has only deepened the mystery, as fingers are now being pointed at the police itself. Unanswered questions abound regarding the initial police inaction following the mother’s disappearance and the subsequent involvement of one of their own constables in the illegal adoption.
Officials from the District Child Protection Department have voiced grave concerns, suggesting the arrested health worker might not be the only one involved. There are strong suspicions of a larger, more organized racket operating within the health system, fueled by significant financial incentives. The possibility of other health workers being complicit in this heinous crime is being investigated thoroughly.
As the investigation progresses, the community holds its breath, hoping for swift justice and the unravelling of the entire network responsible for this ghastly crime. The case has cast a long shadow, demanding a complete overhaul of protocols to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
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