Kidney Racket: NHRC serves notice to Kandhamal Collector and SP

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought report from district magistrate and Superintendent of Police over selling a kidney by a dalit youth in Odisha. Acting on a complaint of rights activist Akhand, the Commission has directed two senior officers to file their reply by four weeks.

Kanhu Behera (20) had sold one of his two kidneys to a man in Berhampur for Rs 3.5 lakhs in April 2015. The Kidney transplant had done at a Hospital in Sri Lanka. Kanhu Behera, the only son of his daily wage earner father Barun Behera of Harijan Sahi of Phulabani of Kandhamal district, did odd jobs to help his father run the family.

Kanhu, who had to discontinue his studies due to acute poverty, decided to sell one of his kidneys after coming in contact with a broker to make a good house for his family. “Due to acute poverty a dalit poor boy was forced to sell a kidney. Family have no BPL card. No government assistance yet. No action against the people behind the illegal act”, alleged Akhand.