Heart-wrenching: Woman caught on CCTV selling newborn daughter in Odisha

In a deeply emotional and disturbing incident from Titilagarh’s Bagdera village in Bolangir district, a mother gave away her newborn daughter into someone else's arms just nine days after giving birth.

With tears in her eyes and pain in her heart, Kanak, the mother, handed over the baby despite carrying her for nine months. She couldn’t keep her daughter even for ten days — a tragic outcome of poverty, pressure, and helplessness.

The mother’s pain was evident as she quietly passed the baby to another family, wrapping the child in a blanket and surrendering her future for a mere Rs 20,000.

The reason? Economic distress, mounting pressure from her husband Neel Rana, and the burden of supporting an already struggling family. The couple already had a daughter, and the birth of another girl child only added to the tension.

Neel, the father, allegedly sold the infant to another couple, citing financial inability to raise another child.

Following OTV’s report on the incident, the police and district administration swung into action. Officials reached the spot, launched an investigation, and successfully rescued the infant from the couple who had taken her.

Shockingly, it was revealed that this was Neel’s second marriage. While his first wife receives government benefits, his second wife, Kanak, does not, a disparity that fueled further hardship. 

When questioned, the Titilagarh Block Development Officer (BDO) confirmed the eligibility of the woman and acknowledged that she should have received aid, raising questions on systemic lapses and awareness at the grassroots level.