In a horrific wake of trafficking and neglect, it has emerged that at least 20 tribal children were sold in Hyderabad over the past two years. The numbers reflect not only the scale of the racket but also the exploitation of vulnerable young mothers.
Senior crime branch officers told a section of the media that all 20 children came from tribal pockets in north Gujarat: Poshina, Kheroj, and Idar in Sabarkantha, and Danta and Deesa in Banaskantha.
The victims were reportedly not chosen at random. Each child came from families grappling with extreme poverty, social stigma, and neglect.
The traffickers capitalised on shifting social norms within these communities, especially around family structures and social acceptance, presenting themselves as offering opportunities to desperate households.
The racket came to light on January 29, when police intercepted four accused near Ahmedabad airport. They were driving from Himmatnagar and carrying a 15-day-old baby, allegedly destined to be resold in Hyderabad.
Senior officers said the arrests immediately widened the investigation, eventually leading to the capture of the key accused, Yunus Sindhi, from Danta.
Officials in the know said that Sindhi’s associate, Rami from Banaskantha, systematically identified women who had delivered children out of wedlock.
He allegedly offered money to the mothers or relatives, bought the infants, and resold them to prospective buyers in Hyderabad through a larger inter-state network.
Police revealed that babies were priced according to skin colour and gender. Fair-skinned infants were reportedly sold for up to Rs 7 lakh. Darker-skinned babies were sold for Rs 2-3 lakh. Boys were sold for higher prices than girls.
Investigators revealed that their current focus is on tracing money trails, identifying buyers in Hyderabad, and examining the role of IVF centres allegedly used to connect childless couples with traffickers.
Authorities added that the sale of infants was not limited to parents. In one case, police reportedly discovered that grandparents and an uncle-aunt had sold a baby.
Senior officers admitted that the lack of healthcare, education, and awareness in these areas exacerbated the problem.
They said that with proper support, these families could have navigated childbirth and social pressure differently. Officials stressed that while social beliefs have shifted over time, hospitals, counselling services, welfare schemes, and legal awareness have not kept pace.
Gujarat, a hotspot for exploitation
It’s undeniable that Gujarat is showing massive cracks in child protection.
In December 2025, it was reported that in one month, 228 children and teens disappeared from Gujarat, of which 171 were girls.
The CID Crime Branch launched a round-the-clock statewide drive. They aim to track missing minors and break human trafficking networks.
Official records revealed over 22,638 people have gone missing in Gujarat over the years. Police flagged November 2025 as a red-alert month.
Then, Mehsana B Division Police rescued seven girls in December last year. They were trafficked from other states and allegedly pushed into the flesh trade. The girls were found confined inside a hotel.
In November 2025, 40 children aged 0–14 went missing, including 20 girls. Another 188 teenagers aged 15–18 disappeared, 171 of them girls. Police traced 20 children (9 girls, 11 boys) and 91 teenagers (14 girls, 77 boys).
Many girls remain untraced, raising fears of trafficking and abuse.
The Congress has alleged a serious case of caste-based discrimination and assault at the Central University of Gujarat’s Vadodara campus, claiming that a first-year undergraduate student was attacked and verbally abused with casteist slurs by senior students in late January.
The party’s complaint relates to an incident said to have occurred on the night of January 26, involving a student enrolled in the BA Social Management programme. The student, who reportedly came from Rajasthan to pursue studies at the university, is said to have been targeted inside the campus hostel premises.
The Central University of Gujarat was established in 2009 under a Central government law and originally functioned from Gandhinagar. A few years ago, it shifted operations to its new permanent campus at Dunthela near Vadodara.
Raising the issue publicly on Wednesday, Congress spokesperson Dr Parthivrajsinh Kathwadia alleged that more than 30 students gathered outside the victim’s room and assaulted him. He claimed the student, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community, was also insulted using caste-based language during the attack.
Kathwadia told Vibes of India that it remains to be seen whether the incident should be treated as a case of ragging and whether provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be invoked.
According to the party, the student has emailed complaints to multiple university authorities, including the Provost, Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Dean, and the Anti-Ragging Helpline. The Congress alleged that despite more than a week passing since the complaint, no concrete action had been taken.
Dr Kathwadia also pointed to wider concerns, stating that in the last five years, over 1,160 complaints of caste discrimination have been reported across more than 700 universities in India.
The Congress further claimed that attempts to contact the university’s Vice Chancellor by phone were unsuccessful.
However, the university has issued a statement through its media relations department quoting Vice Chancellor Prof. Atanu Bhattacharya as saying that an inquiry committee was formed immediately after the matter was brought to notice.
The Vice Chancellor described the episode as an internal dispute between students but added that if the investigation establishes that the case falls under SC/ST-related provisions, it will be forwarded for further action in accordance with SC/ST regulations and applicable rules.
The inquiry is currently underway.
Also Read: ‘Gujarat Breeding Ground for Human Trafficking Agents’: ED Investigation https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-breeding-ground-for-human-trafficking-agents-ed-investigation/
