Balasore, Dec 29: In a shocking incident, a man allegedly sold his newborn son for Rs 60,000 and purchased a motorcycle with the money. The disturbing incident has been reported from Hadmaud village under Basta police limits in Odisha’s Balasore district.
As per reports, Shanti Behera, a resident of Hadmaud village, was married to Dharmu Behera of Podapoda village in Rasgobindpur block of Mayurbhanj district, three years ago. Shanti already had a son from her previous marriage and gave birth to another boy after marrying Dharmu.
During her second pregnancy, Shanti was admitted to PRM Medical College in Baripada on December 19. She delivered a baby boy and was discharged from the hospital on December 22. Soon after, Dharmu reportedly sold the newborn to a childless couple from Sainkula under Udala subdivision in Mayurbhanj district with the help of two middlemen from his village.
The incident came to light when Dharmu used the money to buy a new motorcycle and rode it around the village. Suspicious locals informed the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), prompting an investigation in Hadmaud village.
Following the inquiry, the CWC and Basta police managed to rescue the infant from the couple who had purchased him. Both the families involved in the incident been summoned for further investigation.
Shanti, the infant’s mother, denied allegations of selling her child, claiming she gave the baby to the childless couple because she was unable to care for him. However, the act has sparked widespread condemnation, with many questioning how parents could engage in such a shameful act.
A CWC member confirmed that the baby is safe and currently in the committee’s custody.
Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the incident and the role of those involved.
