A woman, whose biological link with one of the trafficked children was proven through a DNA test, has sought visitation rights to meet her child lodged in a specialised adoption agency.
The woman from K.R. Nagar was among the four women whose biological connection with four of the sixteen trafficked children had been proved through DNA test.
She has filed a petition in the court of the Principal I Civil Judge and JMFC, Mysuru. The court had earlier rejected a petition filed by her seeking custody of the child after she could neither identify the father of the child nor convince the court about her ability to take care of the child on her own.
Meanwhile, two illegal caregivers, who were separated from the trafficked children after the Mysuru district police unearthed the racket last year, too have filed petitions in the court seeking interim custody of the children.
Of the 16 trafficked children, who had been separated form their caregivers and lodged in specialised adoption agencies in Mysuru and Mandya, one 14-month-old child died in Mandya childcare home last month.
While the biological mothers of four children have been identified, the blood samples of the remaining 11 children and their caregivers were drawn in the court premises on Monday and sent for DNA tests. Earlier this month, the court gave its permission to conduct a DNA test of the children and their caregivers following a request from the police.
Though the caregivers had not claimed any biological link with the trafficked children and were merely claiming their custody under foster care, Inspector of Mandi Police station Lakshmikant Talwar, who is investigating the case, said the DNA tests were necessary to rule out the possibility of the caregivers making such a claim later during the course of the trial.
“They may not have claimed a biological link now. What if they do so later and cause a delay in the trail? So, we are completing the DNA tests now. Also, if the DNA tests rules out their biological link with the traffic children, they will be liable to explain how the children came into their custody,” a police officer said.
