The Dharmapuri police on Monday have busted a major kidney trade racket with the arrest of a person, allegedly a tout, and another person he was negotiating with to part with a kidney.
Police suspect some doctors in hospitals may be involved in the racket that could have State-wide operations. On Monday, acting on a tip-off, police arrested N.S. Ayyavu (51) of the Sankagiri taluk in Salem district when he was negotiating with S. Balasubramaniam of Maniambadi village in Pappireddipatti taluk in Dharmapuri district to part with a kidney to P. Ramesh (33) of Bodipatti village in Udumalaipettai taluk in Tiruppur district. Balasubramaniam was also arrested. Inquiries revealed that the tout had been involved in the racket for the last 10 years, police said.
Superintendent of Police Asra Grag told The Hindu that five special teams were formed to nab many more people suspected to be involved in the racket across Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem and Namakkal districts.
“The identity of many touts, doctors and those who sold their kidneys was established.
