Balasore: In a disturbing incident, a man allegedly sold his newborn son for Rs 60,000 and bought a bike. Such an unfortunate incident happened at Hadmaud village under Basta police station in Balasore district.
According to reports, Shanti Behera of the village married Dharmu Behera of Podapoda village under Rasgobindpur block of Mayurbhanj district three years ago. Shanti already had a baby boy from her previous marriage and gave birth to another son after marrying Dharmu.
Shanti was pregnant for the second time, and her husband admitted her to PRM Medical College in Baripada on December 19, where she delivered a baby boy. After being discharged from the hospital on December 22, Dharmu sold his newborn to a childless couple from Sainkula under Udala sub-division in Mayurbhanj district through two middlemen from his village.
The incident came to light when Dharmu purchased a new bike using the money and rode it around the village, drawing attention from locals who informed the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The CWC conducted an investigation at Mayurbhanj Basta Thana Hadmaud village.
The family that bought the baby and the family that sold the baby have been asked to appear before the CWC. The incident has been widely condemned, with many questioning how the parents could commit such a heinous act.
The CWC of Mayurbhanj, along with Basta police, launched an investigation and rescued the infant from the buyers. Shanti Patra, the infant’s mother, denied allegations of selling her child, claiming she had given the baby boy to a childless couple due to her inability to care for him.
A CWC member stated that the baby is safe and currently in their custody. Both the selling and buying families have been summoned for further investigation.
