Police in India are investigating a small hospital in the Gwalior district after it was discovered that unwanted babies were being swapped or sold to the highest bidder on the premises.Â
According to the Times of India, police found that babies born out of wedlock or after a rape were being offered for sale at Palash Hospital for around €1,250 after doctors allegedly convinced women seeking terminations to continue their pregnancies and give birth in secret.
Two newborns were rescued from the hospital and are being cared for by authorities and a team has been tasked with searching for couples who bought babies there. Police say they are aware of three others who have been sold to childless couples in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Another couple with two boys reportedly swapped one of their children for a girl.
The TOI reports that five people, including hospital director TK Gupta, have been booked under sections 370 (buying or disposing of any person as slave), 371 (Habitual dealing in slaves) and 373 (buying minor for the purpose of prostitution).
The situation came to light after hospital manager Arun Bhadoria could not explain the backgrounds of two babies that were found in the hospital.
