Newborn sold for Rs 1 lakh in Warangal, rescued

According to the district child welfare officer G. Mahender Reddy, the boy was born on 10 June at home. His mother, who is separated from her husband, is already taking care of two children. As her financial condition cannot support a third child, she decided to sell him.

Her relatives found a childless couple who are willing to purchase the child. The couple paid Rs 1 lakh and took possession of the child on 11 June. The officials who came to know about the incident through the villagers started an investigation and confirmed that the child was, in fact, sold.

"The biological mother's family mislead us when we questioned about the boy's whereabouts. We filed a complaint with the local police and then we were able to trace the boy to a couple in Hasanparty in Warangal Urban district. They denied knowledge of the law against the illegal adoption of children. We took possession of the child after the biological mother surrendered him to us and handed him over to the Shishu Gruha run by the women and child development department," he said.

Mahender Reddy warned that anyone involved in the illegal adoption of children would be punished according to the Juvenile Justice Act. He said anyone who is having trouble raising children and need them taken care of, can call 1098. Medical and PH nurse Saloni, ICDS sector supervisors Jhansi and Sridevi, outreach worker R. Suman were among those who rescued the child.