Kolkata, Aug 29 — Alert jawans of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) prevented a woman from West Bengal from selling a two‑month‑old infant, whom she claims is her own, for Rs 2.5 lakh. The transaction was to take place at a bus stand in Bihar, close to the India‑Nepal border, on Friday.
“On receipt of specific intelligence regarding an attempt to sell an infant, a joint team of A and G Companies of the 41 Bn SSB conducted an operation at Galgalia bus stand in Kishanganj, Bihar. During the operation, a 37‑year‑old woman was apprehended, and an infant boy born on June 19, 2026, was rescued safely. During preliminary interrogation, the woman admitted that she intended to sell the child to an unknown person for Rs 2.5 lakh,” a senior SSB official said.
The woman has been identified as Rinku Yadav (37), wife of Arjun Yadav, and a resident of Hathkhola, Bagdogra, West Bengal. She said she had planned to sell the child as she was in need of money. She was to hand over the boy to an anonymous person from Rajasthan at the Bhatgaon‑Galgalia bus stand.
The woman and the child have been handed over to Galgalia police station, where authorities will try to ascertain the facts behind the case. Efforts will also be made to find out if others were involved in the racket. The Anti‑Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of SSB Ranidanga and Rahat Organisation, an NGO from Kishanganj, were also involved in the operation.
“While the woman keeps claiming that the child is hers, we will have to ascertain all facts. We have contacted officials in Bagdogra for necessary details. If required, a DNA test may have to be conducted,” a senior police official said.
Even if it is established that the child is hers, it will have to be determined whether the boy can be handed over to her, as she may attempt to sell him again, the official added.
A day earlier, the SSB had foiled a major human trafficking attempt along the border. Six girls, including four minors, were rescued while being taken to a dance bar in Biratnagar, Nepal. They were all from Tripura. Two men, suspected traffickers from the state, were apprehended.
Over the years, the SSB has trained its troops to detect cases of human trafficking and other non‑conventional crimes. The force has also built up an intelligence network along the border in West Bengal and Bihar to prevent such crimes.