Balasore: In a deeply disturbing incident, a father allegedly sold his four-day-old newborn son to a childless couple to buy a new motorcycle in Hadamoud village under Basta police limits in Balasore district.
Shanti Patra, a resident of the village, married Dharmu Behera from Podapoda village under Rasgobindpur block in Mayurbhanj district three years ago. Shanti had a son from her previous marriage and gave birth to another son after marrying Dharmu. Dharmu also had two sons from his previous marriage before marrying Shanti.
On Dec 19, 2024, Dharmu took Shanti to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College in Baripada for the delivery of their child. After being discharged on Dec 22, it is alleged that Dharmu sold the newborn to a childless couple from Sainkula village, under Udala police limits in Mayurbhanj district, for Rs 60,000, facilitated by two youths (middlemen) from the village.
The shocking incident came to light when Dharmu used the money to purchase a new bike and rode it around the village, drawing the attention of the local community. Following a complaint from the villagers on Friday, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Mayurbhanj, along with Basta police, launched an investigation into the matter.
Acting on a tip-off about the illegal act, a joint team of police and the Child Welfare Committee went to Udala and rescued the child on Saturday. The baby is now in the custody of the Special Adoption Agency, Baripada.
Manmohan Pradhan, a member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), said “Acting on a tip-off about the sale of the child, we, along with the police, traced the couple who purchased the baby. Subsequently, the newborn was rescued. The baby is safe and currently in our custody.” He added that both the selling and buying families have been summoned for further probe.
Shanti Patra, the mother of the infant, denied the allegations of selling her child. She said, “I delivered a baby boy, but I am unable to raise him. So, I gave him to a childless couple. I did not sell my baby.”
Meanwhile, the couple, Dharani Behera and Shanti Behera, who bought the baby, along with their relatives, said they haven’t paid to have the baby.