Balangir: The five-day-old baby boy, who was allegedly sold for Rs 2.5 lakhs by his father in Odisha’s Balangir district a week ago, was rescued from Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
Balangir District Child Protection Officer Laxmi Singh told the media persons that the police traced the infant at Raigarh in Chhattisgarh following investigation. They along with members of child helpline went to Raigarh and rescued the baby.
After his arrival, the baby’s health condition was checked by the doctors. He has been kept at a special childcare unit as a precautionary measure.
“Since the baby’s father has already been arrested and his mother had expressed her ignorance about the sale, we did not hand over the infant to them. We have kept the child in the childcare unit till further instructions from police and court,” said Singh.
The police had arrested the child’s father Santosh Patel and middleman Sheikh Ramadan in this connection from Jhankarpada village under Titlagarh block of the district on August 5. The duo had sold the baby to a person in Kalahandi.
Santosh and his wife Pushpa Patel were blessed with their fourth child at Titilagarh hospital. Due to acute poverty, Santosh with help of his neighbor Sheikh allegedly sold his five-day-old baby to a person namely Raja from Kalahandi district for Rs 2.5 lakh. Meanwhile, police have arrested Raja.
Titlagarh police is conducting further investigation into the case.
Also Read: 5-Day-Old Boy Sold For Rs 2.5 Lakh In Odisha’s Balangir; Father & Middleman Held
