Indian police investigates kidney sale

The authorities in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have ordered an inquiry into reports that farmers in the Guntur district are selling their kidneys to repay debts.

A BBC correspondent in Hyderabad the state capital says at least twenty six farmers are believed to have sold their kidneys, for the going rate of one-thousand-two-hundred-and fifty dollars.

Our correspondent say this year's poor harvest appears to be the reason why farmers are taking this desperate step. One of the farmers, B Venkata Reddy, said those willing to sell were taken to Delhi or Madras where they were on. Police say they can only take action when a donor complains about being cheated -- and so far no one has come forward.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service