A woman hailing from Pallivilai, near Nagercoil, allegedly sold her twin girl babies due to poverty in December last.
In connection with this, the mother of the children and three other women were arrested here on Sunday.
S. Kumudha, District Child Protection Officer, told The Hindu that M. Leelavathi and her husband Muthu, a construction labourer, already have a three-and-a-half-year-old girl child.
In December last, she gave birth to twin babies at the Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital.
Three days after delivery, she allegedly sold the babies to two women for ₹8,000 and ₹50,000, respectively.
“Based on a tip-off received at my office, I deputed officials to KGMCH and verified the details. Investigations revealed that Leelavathi failed to turn up to receive maternity benefit from the hospital after child birth’’ Ms. Kumudha said.
During the inquiry conducted by the officials, the woman confessed that she sold her twin babies fearing that her husband, a drunkard, would send them out to beg.
One child was sold to a woman in Thoothukudi, and another to Vanaja of Vattakkarai in Kanniyakumari district.
The baby sold to Vanaja was recovered and handed over to the District Child Welfare Committee.
Husband not involved
In connection with the case, the Asaripallam police arrested Leelavathi, her sister Kala, broker Vijaya and Vanaja, who bought one baby.
Police have launched a search to rescue another child from a woman in Thoothukudi through the District Child Protection Office.
