Sting operation on Chambal Bridge exposes sex determination racket:Pregnant lady pulled out,fake doctor help trap gang conducting illegal foetal gender tests

Around 3 pm, the bridge over the Chambal river on the Morena–Dholpur road appeared quiet when two cars were suddenly seen speeding towards it. Onlookers thought it was a race, but the reality was far more dangerous. Inside the first car, a sonography of a pregnant woman was being conducted using a portable ultrasound machine as part of the illegal process of determining the fetus’s sex. The second car carried a team from the National Health Mission (NHM), which had been laying a trap for months to catch the operation red-handed. The gang believed they would be safe once they crossed the Chambal bridge and entered Rajasthan. However, the pregnant woman being examined was actually the NHM team’s decoy, and the “sister-in-law” with her was a government doctor from Madhya Pradesh involved in the sting. As soon as the bridge ended, the chasing car rammed the first car from the side, forcing it off the road. The vehicle was locked from the inside, so the team broke the windows with stones, opened the door, and safely rescued the pregnant woman and the doctor. The cinematic-style sting exposed a major network conducting fetal sex determination in a moving car. Sonography in moving car, the plan was to escape by crossing border Caught the gang in a dramatic style
The sting operation, which involved chasing a car, included two vehicles. In the first car, Dr. Rashmi Mishra was sitting as the ‘sister-in-law’ with the pregnant woman. Broker Asha Sunita was also with them. In the second car, which was following, Dr. Bindu, Dr. Prabal, Dr. Anubha, and Sanjay Joshi were present. As soon as the first car was stopped and its window was broken, the team immediately pulled out the pregnant woman and the doctor. Subsequently, the doctor, ANM, and other associates were taken into custody from the spot. Trap laid after six months of preparation
The National Health Mission received information about a large network operating in the border area that was illegally determining the sex of fetuses. Based on this tip-off, NHM planned a sting operation. A pregnant woman was first prepared as a decoy, a process that took about 15 days due to the risks involved. A local informer was then assigned to reach the gang. After about one and a half months of tracing, officials identified the people involved and how they contacted pregnant women. During the investigation, it also emerged that some ANMs were part of the network. How the entire network operated ASHA worker demands ₹50,000 in second sting In another sting operation, the team contacted an ASHA worker named Sunita, who demanded ₹50,000 to reveal the fetus’s sex. According to the deal, half the amount was to be paid in advance and the rest in the car after the test. She said the woman was three months pregnant, so they would need to wait a few days for clearer results. About two months later, she contacted them again and asked them to be ready for the test, this time fixing the location at the Madhya Pradesh–Uttar Pradesh border. Operation at UP border
In another operation, a car arrived at a dhaba in Ranipura near the Chambal bridge before Morena to pick up the pregnant woman. From there, the car headed towards Etawah, roamed around Etawah Safari, circled the city, and then re-entered Madhya Pradesh via Ekta Colony Road. The woman was later dropped at the same dhaba and told that the fetus was a boy. In this case, strong chase or photo evidence was not available, but action was possible based on call recordings and audio evidence. Information sent to centre
On March 6, Dr. Pragya Tiwari, Joint Director of the National Health Mission, sent details of these sting operations to the central government. Techniques like sex determination and “family balancing” have been blamed for the declining sex ratio. A national meeting on the issue was held in Patna from March 10 to 13, where Madhya Pradesh shared details of such sting operations that could be implemented nationwide. Declining sex ratio
Experts say such stings are necessary as the sex ratio at birth in Madhya Pradesh has shown a worrying decline. It was 925 in 2016–18, dropped to 919 in 2019–20, and further to 915 in 2020–22. Though it improved slightly to 917 in 2023, it remains below earlier levels. Data for 2021–23 shows a sex ratio of 911 in rural areas and 941 in urban areas, indicating fewer girls being born in rural regions. Experts attribute this to prenatal sex determination and the social preference for sons. Network exposed, challenge remains
NHM Joint Director Dr. Pragya Tiwari said the sting exposed a major network, but the illegal practice has not been eliminated. To curb it, authorities are offering rewards of ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh to those who spread awareness or provide information about such gangs. She said the biggest challenge remains social pressure and the desire for a son, so along with legal action and monitoring, awareness campaigns are also being conducted.