symbolic picture
A heart-wrenching case has come to light in Hadamaud village of Balasore district in Odisha. Here a father sold his newborn son to a childless couple just so that he could buy a new bike. Shanti Patra, the mother of the newborn baby, was married to Dharmu Behera of Podapoda village in Mayurbhanj district and both were living in Hadamaud village of Balasore. After marriage, Shanti gave birth to two sons. Dharmu already had a son from his first marriage.
On December 19, 2024, Dharmu admitted Shanti to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College, Baripada for delivery. Dharmu is accused of selling his newborn son to a childless couple from Sankula village in Mayurbhanj district for Rs 60,000 after he was discharged from the hospital on December 22. The deal was reportedly executed by two youths of the village. This shocking incident came to light when Dharmu bought a new bike with the money sold and started roaming in the village. Seeing this, the villagers became suspicious and informed the Child Welfare Committee.
police statement
Sujata Khamari, IIC of Khunta police station of Mayurbhanj, said, “A couple has bought a child for Rs 60,000. We got information about this incident from the Child Welfare Committee. The Child Welfare Committee and Khunta police conducted a joint operation and arrested the person who bought the child. The child was rescued from the couple. The child is now under the care of the Child Welfare Committee. We are investigating the matter further.”
The accused is already the father of three children.
According to the Child Welfare Committee, “The couple who bought the child have been married for about 15 years, but they did not have any children. That is why they allegedly bought a child. Shanti Patra and Dharmu Patra through middlemen Shanti Patra and Dharmu Patra Came in contact with the buying couple. The buying couple are residents of Baripada town in Mayurbhanj district. We came to know that these people had exchanged Rs 60,000 in exchange for the child. The selling husband already had one child from his first marriage and two from his second marriage, so he sold the child to the Baripada couple.
deal made in hospital
Child Welfare Committee said, “The deal took place directly in the hospital. After selling the baby, Dharmu (father of the newborn) allegedly bought a motorcycle and drove around in his area. We got information about this incident from the local people. Trading of the baby is illegal as it does not follow the adoption policy. However, we have rescued the baby with the help of Khunta Police and have called the selling couple to answer in this matter. of the case. “Further investigation is underway.”
The child’s mother denied the allegations
The child’s mother denied all the allegations and said, “We have given birth to a child but we cannot raise him. We have donated the child to a couple who had no children. We were introduced to Baripada by an acquaintance of the village. Came in contact with the couple and gave them the child. We have been accused of selling the child for money but we did not take any money on the basis of our identity card. not being able to pay money Because of this, the showroom people took the motorcycle back the very next day.” At present the newborn has been kept under the care of the Child Welfare Committee. Police are investigating the matter and strict action will be taken against the culprits.
(Shubham Kumar reports from Odisha)
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