VEHARI, Nov 11: The claim of a gypsy girl that she has been deprived of one of her kidneys at a private hospital in Lahore once again raises the issue of thriving kidney trade in the country where people sell their vital organs due to poverty.

Reports have been appearing in the national press for quite some time about this illegal business involving some private hospitals in the country who lure poor people, specially gypsies and bonded labourers, into selling their kidneys.

A private hospital near Kalma Chowk, Lahore, is in the news for promoting the trade.

Rukhsana of Chak 93/WB told newsmen that she was abducted by three men — Baggi, Malangi, and Kaloo — two months ago.

“During captivity the accused took me to Masood Hospital (in Lahore) for my treatment where a doctor removed my kidney,” Rukhsana, who earned her ‘freedom’ last week, told newsmen.

She said the local police had refused to entertain her plaint although a local doctor confirmed that her kidney had been removed.

Some relatives, however, said the girl had sold the kidney but was not compensated accordingly by the accused who took her to Lahore.

Thingi SHO Afzal Nadim said that the victim had not approached him.