In a joint operation, the Telangana police and the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department rescued a 27-day-old male infant who was allegedly sold by his parents for ₹5 lakh.
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Officials have admitted the infant to the government-run Sishu Gruha, where the baby is in a stable condition, West Godavari District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Ch. Surya Chakraveni said on Wednesday.
Officials said that a woman named G. Mallika hailing from Chintalapudi mandal in West Godavari district had given birth to a boy on March 3 at a private clinic in Aswaraopeta of Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana. Later, Mallika’s husband Arun Kumar, and Arun’s mother Mary, sold the baby to a man named Buchibabu, a resident of Rajamahendravaram.
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Buchibabu, who took the baby to Rajamahendravaram, reportedly sold the baby again to some persons in Visakhapatnam, who in turn sold the baby to a couple in Anakapalle. The case came to light after a complaint was lodged with the Aswaraopet police by an Anganwadi worker from Rajamahendravaram.
Further investigation is on, police said.
Man sells daughter
In a similar incident, a three-month-old girl was allegedly sold by her father, identified as M. Manoj of Mangalagiri. Guntur Urban police arrested 11 persons, including some women, for their involvement in the case.
The baby was sold six times to persons in Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Vijayawada and Eluru, and a total of ₹10.30 lakh changed hands, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) J. Rambabu said.