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Indians confess to surgical removal of their kidneys: Police
View(s):Eight Indian nationals arrested over alleged visa violations were produced before the Colombo Medical Officer (JMO) yesterday to ascertain if any of their organs had been removed, after suspicions surfaced that they may be part of an international kidneyracket involving Sri Lanka. The JMO’s report will be submitted to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
The men were arrested on Thursday (3) in two separate raids conducted by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). Officers had first arrested six Indian nationals staying at an apartment in Pennyquick Road, Wellawatta. Based on information provided by them, two other Indian nationals were taken into custody from a housing scheme in Havelock Place in Pamankada, later the same day. None of the suspects possessed a valid visa to stay in Sri Lanka. However, when the suspects were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate on Friday, investigators had informed court that some of those arrested in Wellawatta had admitted to having their kidneys removed. They also bore scars on their stomachs that indicated surgeries had been performed on them.
While ordering the suspects to be held at the Mirihana Detention Center, court also sought a full report from the Colombo JMO to ascertain if any other organs had also been removed from the suspects. In January, Indian police filed cases against six Sri Lankan doctors alleging they had been engaged in illegal kidney transplant operations. It was further alleged that the illegal operations had been conducted at four private hospitals in Sri Lanka. This followed the arrest of an alleged kidney racket kingpin and two of his associates by Indian police. The men were said to have facilitated some 60 illegal kidney transplant operations in Sri Lanka.
The revelations prompted the Sri Lanka Government to temporarily suspend all kidney transplant operations conducted on foreigners at the country’s private hospitals. The suspension is still in place.
A committee appointed by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne to probe the matter handed in its report last month. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently conducting a probe into the alleged racket in Sri Lanka.