GUWAHATI, Nov 5: In a major breakthrough, Nagaon Police have busted an illegal kidney-selling racket operating in Hooj Kaibarta village, leading to the arrest of three individuals identified as Deep Das, Dharoni Das alias Bogamula, and Mahendra Das.
According to Nagaon Senior Superintendent of Police Swapnanil Deka, the arrests followed a sustained operation over the past few days, which uncovered a long-running organ trade network allegedly active in the region for several years.
“The racket first surfaced in 2021 when six to seven villagers secretly sold their kidneys through brokers,” a police source said. “Although the matter subsided after local intervention, it appears to have revived recently, with victims reporting threats and intimidation for speaking out.”
Residents alleged that brokers targeted financially distressed villagers, promising large sums of money and a better life, before connecting them to buyers through unverified medical networks outside the district. Reports suggest that a considerable portion of the village population has already sold their kidneys, often under coercion or misinformation.
Experts attribute the phenomenon to acute poverty and limited employment opportunities in rural areas. “The global shortage of kidneys, combined with economic desperation, makes vulnerable individuals easy targets for exploitation,” noted a study published in Global Public Health.
Police have initiated further investigations to trace the wider network, including possible medical facilitators and interstate links involved in the illicit organ trade.
