Odisha police rescue 28-day-old infant sold by parents for Rs 20,000

NEW DELHI: Police in Odisha’s Bolangir district on Monday rescued a 28-day-old baby girl who was allegedly sold by her parents for Rs 20,000 due to extreme poverty, officials said.

The incident came to light on Sunday from Bagdera village under Bhaleigaon Panchayat in Titilagarh sub-division. The parents, identified as Nila and Kanak Rana, allegedly sold their newborn daughter due to extreme poverty.

Titlagarh sub-divisional police officer Kalyan Behera confirmed that no arrests were made as no formal complaint had been filed. The infant was safely recovered and transferred to CWC custody.

Bolangir district CWC in-charge chairperson Lina Babu stated, "We have not started an inquiry into the matter as the infant's rescue was our priority. During the day, we will launch a probe and lodge a police."

The Paikmal couple denied purchasing the child, claiming they took the baby in consideration of the biological parents' poverty. Officials revealed that both Nila and Kanak are remarried, with Nila having three daughters from his first marriage and Kanak having one daughter from her previous marriage.

Nila Rana defended their actions to the CWC, stating, "We have not sold her. We gave the baby for her better upbringing, not for money."

This is not the first such incident in the region. In November 2024, authorities rescued another newborn who was allegedly sold by her mother to a private hospital in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. That case was reported from the Lathor area in Bolangir district.