Organ trade: SIT to record Shameer’s statement

KOCHI: Special investigation team (SIT) probing Nedumbassery organ trade case has filed a request to get the statement of Malayali ‘donor’ Shameer recorded before a magistrate. Shameer, who was reported missing after Ernakulam rural police began an investigation, was traced and brought to Ernakulam on Saturday.
Sources said SIT is considering naming him as a victim in an ideal scenario, but it would depend on his statement.
“He was deeply brainwashed by the racket so much so that he didn’t know the extent to which he was duped. He was paid around Rs 6 lakh while the accused made around 50 lakh through him and took his kidney,” said a source.
According to the police, Shameer was settled in Pollachi for a long time though his roots are in Palakkad. SIT had sent a team to Palakkad and Pollachi to track him down in the initial phase of the probe, but he wasn’t found. It is suspected that he decided to stay incommunicado fearing the ramifications of a probe.
According to SIT, all major links of the racket in India have been busted. Questioning of kingpin B Ramprasad in custody is continuing. Police found that it was Prasad who arranged to send Shameer to Iran.