A one-month-old baby girl was allegedly sold by her parents for ₹35,000 in Odisha’s Bhadrak district to repay a loan, prompting police to launch an investigation and initiate efforts to trace and rescue the infant, officials said.
Grandmother’s complaint exposes alleged sale
The case came to light after the child’s grandmother, Sabitri Das (55), a resident of Bayanbanapur village, lodged a complaint on Tuesday. She alleged that her son, Sipu Das alias Swastik, and daughter-in-law, Reena Das alias Ranjita, took the baby out on Monday claiming they were going to a hospital but returned home without the child.
“When I asked about my granddaughter, they scolded me and tried to beat me with sticks,” Sabitri alleged in her complaint. She further claimed that her son, daughter-in-law and Reena’s mother had conspired to either sell or kill the newborn.
Parents detained, statements recorded
Acting on the complaint, Bhandaripokhari Police Station registered a case and detained the parents along with Reena’s mother for interrogation.
During questioning, Sipu allegedly admitted to selling his daughter for ₹35,000 to repay a loan of around ₹55,000 taken from relatives and others. He claimed repeated pressure from lenders forced him into the act. Reena, meanwhile, told police that her husband compelled her to sell the child due to mounting debt.
Police said Reena has two sons aged 10 and 12 from a previous marriage, while this is Sipu’s first marriage.
Child tracing efforts underway
Sources indicated that the infant may have been sold in the Rajabagicha area of Cuttack, though police said this information is yet to be confirmed. Senior officers said teams are working to trace the child with assistance from Childline 1098 and other child welfare agencies.
ASP Arup Abhishek Behera said an investigation is ongoing to verify all claims and locate the infant at the earliest.
Public outrage, calls for strict action
Villagers condemned the alleged act, calling it a grave betrayal of parental responsibility. Legal experts said the case highlights the extreme vulnerability of infants and the urgent need for strict enforcement of child protection laws.