SHOCKING! Kashmir’s orphans up for sale in Indian markets

SRINAGAR — Kashmiri children, orphaned after COVID-19 took away their parents, are up for sale in Indian markets, a news channel has reported.

According to India Today’s investigate report, Asrar Amin ran an NGO in Kashmir called Global Welfare Charitable Trust, which claims to be working for children and family welfare. But when India Today’s SIT reporters probed him at a hotel in Delhi, he offered Covid orphans under his care for Rs 75,000 a child.

“We have so many orphans with us. But if one wants a Covid orphan, there’s no problem,” he said. “Kashmiri children are really beautiful, Mashallah!”

Amin demanded Rs 1.50 lakh for a pair of Covid orphans. “So two children can be adopted for Rs 1.50 lakh, right?” asked the reporter.

“Yes. I am not taking this money for myself. It’s for my trust,” the NGO head replied.

According to India Today, Amin is willing to offer Covid orphans without paperwork. “You must be adopting a child for some reason. There’s no need for paperwork in that situation. But if you still insist, you can do it,” he told the news channel.

“But what if there’s a problem tomorrow?” the reporter asked. “That’s my headache. I’ll handle. I’ll say you never met me. I don’t know you,” Amin replied.

According to the report, one NGO operator from Pampore in Kashmir was offering new-born Covid orphans, some even lifted from hospitals, for adoption.

Aijaz Ahmad Dar of the Noble Foundation (non-profit) told India Today’s investigative reporters in New Delhi that he would involve hospital doctors in stealing the orphaned new-borns. “Suppose there’s a newborn. We’ll get that baby lifted right away,” he said.

“Like a Covid orphan, a new-born whose mother died from Covid in the hospital?” the reporter investigated. “That’s what I am saying. We’ll take some gynaecologists, some MD (qualified doctor), whom I know, in confidence. We’ll ask them how much money they would want if there’s a death,” Dar said.

He added, “We’ll talk to them to give us any orphan who has lost his/her mother. We’ll tell them not to send the baby to any orphanage but give it to us. We’ll update. God willing, we’ll have a child whose parent died from Covid.” He demanded Rs 10 lakh for such a child.

“How many orphans are you in contact with in general?” asked the reporter. “At least 500-600. From 8 to 10 years in age,” Dar replied.