Khammam, January 11: Shahnaz, a resident of Sarapaka village in Burgampad mandal, Khammam district, went to her parents’ place in Kothagudem four months ago. It wasn’t unnatural but four months had passed by and her husband, SK Shareef, was understandably upset. He rang her up only to find that she was not in Kothagudem but in Hyderabad. He rushed to the State capital and found to his horror that she had become a “surrogate mom” _ it means she will deliver a baby for a third party, usually childless couples.
“We will get ` 2.40 lakh which would be enough to clear all debts,” Shahnaz reportedly tried to persuade her worried husband who brushed aside all her arguments and lodged a complaint with the police against those who had encouraged his wife and offered money.
Burgampad police registered a case under Section 420 and started investigation, Palvoncha circle inspector Ravindranath said. The investigation unearthed a racket that is alarming to say the least. Sources said about 12 women from Bhadrachalam and Burgampad agency area had been taken to the state capital and kept in infertility centres.
An RMP in Bhadrachalam was found to be acting as a middle man and another RMP in Hyderabad reportedly played a key role in luring the women into conceiving for someone else by offering money.
“The middle men trap innocent and unmarried tribals and women from the minority communities in the region,” the sources said adding that almost all the women belong to below poverty line families.
Mohd Asad, official spokesperson of Jamat Ulema-E Hind, submitted a memorandum to the district SP, demanding strict action against the culprits.
–Agencies