Mysuru: The Mysuru District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has ordered a Police probe into the death of a 14-month-old girl at a Child Care Home in Mandya.

It may be recalled here that the child, which was separated from her illegal caregivers in Mysuru and was admitted to Vikasana Children’s Home in Mandya, died recently. The Children’s Home authorities claimed that the child died due to asphyxiation while being fed milk.

The baby is among the 16 children who had been separated from their caregivers after the Mysuru district Police busted a child-trafficking racket for illegal adoption, involving two maternity homes in Mysuru and Nanjangud last year. While six children were sent to Vikasana, six others were admitted to Janapada Seva Trust at Melukote and the four others to Bapuji Children’s Home in Mysuru.

After questioning the Director and Co-ordinator of Vikasana, the CWC authorities have directed the Mandya Rural Police and Mandi Police Station in Mysuru, which is investigating the child-trafficking case, to conduct an inquiry into the death and submit a report at the earliest.

The CWC has directed Mysuru District Child Protection Officer to shift remaining five children out of Vikasana in the wake of the child’s death. Mysuru Dist. Child Protection Officer Nagaraju confirmed that the CWC has directed that the five children be shifted out of Vikasana to a suitable child care home.