Role of more Asha workers under lens

CHANDIGARH: INVOLVEMENT of more Asha workers in child trafficking racket busted by the Chandigarh Police has come to fore, going by the statement of the parents of the rescued 11-day-old girl who was sold for ₹1 lakh.

The parents of the girl are daily wagers and she was their fourth child. Accused Bhawna (32) of Sector 45, Chandigarh, arrested for child trafficking was reportedly introduced to the couple by an Asha worker in Muktsar.

The Asha worker had told the couple that Bhawna was her sister and unable to bear children.she reportedly had convinced them to hand over their newborn to Bhawna so that she can raise the child as her own.

The couple told the police that it was only when police came looking for them they got to know that the child was sold for ₹1 lakh to a childless couple in Chandigarh. The statements of parents of the girl were recorded before a magistrate.

“The Asha worker who had persuaded to give up the baby girl has been traced. She is admitted to a hospital, thus her statement could not be recorded,” said a senior police officer, adding it is being probed whether the Asha worker was aware of the child being sold or not.

FATHER OF RESCUED BOY GIVES STATEMENT

The father of the rescued newborn boy recorded his statement before a magistrate on Thursday. Hailing from Dhuri, he stated his wife had delivered twins of which one was stillborn.

He was handed over the body of the stillborn never informed about the other boy. His wife was discharged from hospital on August 3.