Police hunt for PHC nurse suspected of child trafficking

Vijayapura: Police in Vijayapura are looking for a primary health centre nurse who is suspected to be involved in child trafficking.The complaint against nurse Jayamala Bijapur (Patil) was filed by Childline, a helpline, whose staff on Sunday found two children — one three years old and the other just 11 months old — in separate houses under the care of two women appointed by Jayamala.The staff of a children’s helpline have unearthed a case of child trafficking in Vijayapura and taken two children into their custody on Sunday evening. Sunanda Vasudev Tholabandi, a Childline officer, said in her complaint at the women’s police station: “We found that Jayamala has employed two women in two separate houses in Athani Galli and Darbar Galli to take care of a three-year-old child and an 11-month-old baby. After searching these houses, we found the children, who were being cared for by women appointed by Jayamala for a monthly payment of Rs 3,000. We took custody of both the kids.”She added: “We have also got more information that Jayamala has kept many such kids in different places as part of her child trafficking business. She is untraceable.”Superintendent of police HD Anand Kumar said that based on Childline’s complaint, “we have filed an FIR against Jayamala and are searching for her. The babies are now in an adoption centre.”“We have found out that Jayamala worked as a nurse in a primary health centre in Jigajinagi in the Indi taluk and has been involved in such activities for years. It looks like she is involved in helping childless couples adopt babies by illegal means but we are still investigating the case.”He said that more details “will come to light only after arresting Jayamala and we will soon arrest her”.