Kidney trade unearthed in J&KSunday, April 22, 2007 (Srinagar)
Drug addicts in Jammu and Kashmir state are selling off their kidneys as police indicate a link between drugs and organ trade.
One of them Ajaz Ahmad has been living with just one kidney for eight months now.
He was high on drugs and alcohol when he gave his consent to sell one of his kidneys.
Ahmad was promised Rs 2.5 lakh but he got just Rs 25,000 and the operation was carried out in Ludhiana in Punjab.
''When I agreed to give away my kidney, I was high. The man involved in the racket was also high,'' says Ahmad.
''I gave him my consent and they gave me some money. I kept my promise. Then we had to go out of J&K for the kidney transplant.
''I am yet to get the full amount promised to me. I have only got Rs 25,000,'' Ahmad said.
A year ago Javid Ahmad an auto-rickshaw driver agreed to sell his kidney for money which he never got.
''They promised me a piece of land, a house and money. Two people took me out of the state where my kidney was taken out. I did not get anything in return, no land, no house,'' says Javid Ahmad.
Both men say the organ racket is run by Ghulam Rasool in Srinagar.
Rasool who sold one his own kidneys five years ago says those who sell thier kidney are doing it willingly.
''They are trying to implicate me by saying that they have not recieved the money. Why should anyone sell his body part without being paid,'' says Rasool.
''I sold my kidney and got money from the buyers now how can I go back to them and say they have not given me the money. I am telling you the truth, that they have taken the money''.
Police say there is a strong link between drug addiction and organ trade.
''We are investigating the racket. We are looking at the background of all these people. Most of them are either alcholics or drug addicts,'' says the SSP in Srinagar SA Mujtaba.
It is the first organ trade racket in Kashmir. Police sources say the racket could be much bigger with links outside the state.
URL:
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070009487#
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
