NEW DELHI: Two decades ago, the Bollywood film Run depicted a young man venturing to Delhi in pursuit of employment only to be snared by kidney transplant scammers. A recent chargesheet filed by the law enforcement authorities reveals a strikingly analogous plot orchestrated by a syndicate that preyed on desperate individuals seeking a better life and left them with an indelible scar and a haunting future.
Three Bangladeshi citizens (identities withheld) have disclosed harrowing accounts of falling victim to a kidney trafficking ring operating in India.Their testimonies, documented under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, expose a sinister scheme in which these unsuspecting individuals were enticed to India with the promise of employment but were deprived of their kidneys in the guise of medical examinations. Sedated and helpless, they would regain consciousness 48 hours later, discovering their kidneys had been harvested with a paltry sum of 4 lakh takas deposited into their bank accounts as compensation.
TI, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi man, didn’t know whether to celebrate Eid this year or not after being rescued by police from the clutches of the traffickers that day. He had already lost his kidney. TI, who lived with his mother, sister and wife in Bangladesh, had been advised by an acquaintance to seek employment in India.
He said, “When a fire destroyed my cloth business, I took an 8-lakh taka loan from an NGO. I repaid 3 lakh takas, but the remaining debt caused financial strain for us. A friend suggested that I go to India and arranged my passport and medical visa, claiming job opportunities awaited me. On arrival in India on June 1, I was told there were no jobs. But the men pressured me to donate a kidney for money. I refused, but they withheld my passport and visa, threatening to prevent my departure from India unless I complied.”
SS, 35, was similarly assured of employment by an individual named Taskin in Bangladesh. He was transported to India on February 2. At the airport two men, Rasel and Mohammed Rokon, were waiting for me. “I accompanied them to Hotel Rampal in Jasola. I was promised employment at a hospital and told I had to undergo medical examinations in accordance with Indian regulations,” said SS. “I undertook 15-20 tests, including blood tests and an ECG. On April 2, I was taken to a hospital where a nurse administered a liquid substance, causing me to lose consciousness.”
He continued, “On April 3, I was administered an injection and became unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness on April 5, I discovered a scar and stitch marks on my abdomen. I was informed that I had undergone surgery. On April 6, Rasel and his associate Sumon relocated me to the hotel in Jasola. Rasel obtained my bank account details and deposited 4 lakh takas in it but confiscated my passport. My visa had expired in the interim and Rasel told me that I would no longer be employed and instructed me to return to Bangladesh.”
S, the third Bangladeshi, suffered a similar experience. He was contacted by a person named Aronno on Facebook, who promised him a job in India with a stipend during training. He was asked to undergo extensive medical tests and 49 tubes of blood were drawn from him over six days. S said, “I was administered something that made me feel weak and I lost consciousness. I woke up to find my kidney missing. I was told I could live with one kidney without any problem. I was paid 4.5 lakh takas.”
The trio has returned to Bangladesh with their tales of horror. Police have filed a chargesheet in the case and the trial is set to begin.
