India, June 19 -- Delhi Police busted a major inter-state child trafficking syndicate across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, arresting 13 people and rescuing five infants allegedly being sold to childless couples for lakhs of rupees.

The racket came to light on June 5 when a team from the Central District's Operations Unit conducted a decoy operation near RK Ashram Metro Station in Paharganj. Police apprehended three accused, including two women and a man, while they were allegedly attempting to sell a newborn baby boy, aged around four to five days, to decoy customers arranged by the police.

The infant was rescued safely, and the Rs 20,000 paid as token money during the operation was recovered. A case was subsequ...