13 Aug 2016

Arrests over 'baby-selling gang' in Pakistan

11:21 am on 13 August 2016

Pakistan police have arrested several hospital workers over a scheme that sold newborn babies in Peshawar.

Neo-natal beds in a hospital

Photo: 123RF

The gang swapped newborn babies with the bodies of dead infants in hospitals and maternity homes, and told their parents the child had died, police told the BBC.

The babies were then sold to childless couples for between 70,000-300,000 rupees.

Police told the BBC they had received a number of complaints about stolen babies.

Some women who had given birth to healthy babies said they were told within hours that their child had died.

Among those arrested were five women and two men, including a nurse, two health workers and an agent who allegedly struck the deals with childless couples.

An abducted baby girl was rescued from the gang's custody.

The gang had abducted and sold nine newborns, police said.

- BBC