Month-old baby sold for Rs 20,000 in Odisha’s Bhadrak; rescued from Cuttack

A month-old baby girl, allegedly sold by her parents, was rescued on Wednesday by Bhadrak police from Cuttack and admitted to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Bhadrak for medical examination.

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According to official sources, the rescue operation was carried out by Bhandaripokhari police following a complaint from the infant’s grandmother yesterday. The child belongs to Bayanbanapur village under Bhandaripokhari police limits in Bhadrak district. After health check-ups, the baby will be handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for further care and protection.

According to the complaint, the baby’s parents had allegedly sold the infant for Rs 20,000. The grandmother stated that her son, Sipu Das, and daughter-in-law had taken the child away on Monday morning on the pretext of visiting a hospital. However, when they returned home late at night without the baby, she grew suspicious.

When questioned about the child’s whereabouts, the couple reportedly became aggressive, abused her verbally and even attempted to assault her, the elderly woman alleged. She then approached the police, suspecting that her granddaughter had been sold.

Acting swiftly, police launched an investigation, traced the child to Cuttack and successfully rescued her. Further investigation into the alleged child sale is currently underway.

“On being informed by Bhandaripokhari police, some Childline members from Bhadrak had gone to Rajabagicha locality in Cuttack and rescued the sold baby girl. Later, the infant was handed over to CWC,” the welfare body chairperson, Subrat Biswal, said to OTV.

“She was kept in ‘Ashiana’ at night. As she was sick, the child was admitted to Bhadrak DHH for medical care. As today is a holiday, a CWC meeting will be held tomorrow, and the matter will be discussed in detail,” the CWC chairperson expressed.