Assam Police have arrested three key accused — Dharni Das, Mahendra Das, and Deep Das — believed to be running the organ trafficking network for years. The operation came to light during an awareness meeting against drugs and illegal liquor in the village, when several residents shared their experiences.
Investigations revealed that most villagers, despite receiving government aid, were struggling with poverty and unemployment. Out of a population of 2,200, only about 20% are employed and 10% work in farming, leaving the rest without stable income. The traffickers exploited this desperation, offering between Rs3 lakh and Rs6 lakh for a kidney.
One victim recounted that he was taken to Kolkata for a “medical test,” sedated, and later discovered that a kidney had been removed. “Many of us fell sick afterward, but no one dared to speak,” another resident said, describing the racket as an open secret within the community.
Police sources said the gang had revived operations after the 2020 lockdown, when a similar case surfaced in Morigaon district. Reports indicate that in several households, both husband and wife have sold a kidney each to survive.
Local authorities have launched a detailed probe and are coordinating with Kolkata Police to trace hospitals and intermediaries involved in the illegal surgeries. Officials say the case exposes a disturbing nexus between poverty, addiction, and organ trafficking in Assam’s rural belt.
1.jpg)
