AGRA, Jan. 21 -- What began as an ordinary train journey quickly spiralled into terror for a young mother. After being offered food laced with an intoxicant, she slipped into unconsciousness - and woke up only to find her 10-month-old baby gone. What followed was a swift, CCTV-led operation by the Government Railway Police (GRP) that cut across districts, exposed a child-selling racket, and ended with the infant being safely reunited with the mother.

According to the GRP, the woman had boarded the Nandan Kanan Express at Aligarh railway station on the night of January 15 along with her infant. Around 1 pm, a co-passenger seated in front of her allegedly offered her food mixed with some intoxicant. After she lost consciousness, the accuse...