VADODARA: A resident of Vadodara was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police for illegally buying a child from a gang involved in human trafficking in Alirajpur district adjoining the state.The gang consisting of four persons was busted by cops on Sunday.Purshottam Agrawal, who runs a snacks shop in Vadodara, had purchased a baby boy from kingpin Shailendra Rathore this year for Rs 60,000. Purshottam had got in touch with Rathore through Raju Agrawal, a BJP worker from Chhota Udepur. Both, Purshottam and Raju were picked up on Monday for interrogation when Rathore had revealed their names. However, Raju was allowed to go as he was not involved in the child trafficking.“Raju and Purshottam are relatives. Raju had introduced Purshottam to Rathore this year, but he was not involved in any trade,” said superintendent of Alirajpur police Vipul Shrivastava. Raju was earlier working at Rathore’s petrol pump in Alirajpur.An FIR was registered by police under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act on Sunday. The gang members were trapped when they were selling an 18-month-old kid to a couple for Rs 1.4 lakh.Prashant Dubey, a social activist, had learnt that Rathore was looking to sell a baby boy who was born illegitimately to a woman. Dubey informed police about him following which a trap was laid to nab him.Dubey and a woman police sub-inspector Chanchala Soni went to Rathore as a decoy couple to purchase the baby. After the baby was handed over to them, they arrested the man along with three others members of the gang – Dinesh Bhinde, Desingh Bhinde and a minor girl.Shrivastava told TOI that so far they have been successful in rescuing three children – one that Rathore was selling on Sunday, one bought by Purshottam and another from a different couple in Madhya Pradesh.

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