A three-and-a-halfmonth-old baby boy who was sold off two months ago by his mother to foot the medical bills of her alcoholic husband was rescued from Hassan district on Thursday.
Sources said Jyothi sold the baby for Rs 21,000 to a retired nurse in the third week of September to pay the bills of her husband, a chronic drunkard who had to undergo de-addiction, reports TOI.
The family belongs to the Hakki-Pikki nomadic tribal community. The nurse had, in turn, sold the baby to a childless woman.
Based on an anonymous letter receivedby thedistrict children protection cell, members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the department of women and child development (DWC) rescued the baby boy from the district’s Belur town.
DWC deputy director Padma has directed the CWC to register a criminal case against all those involved in the racket, besides launching a hunt for the toddler’s mother.
CWC chairperson Komala told TOI that Jyothi, living near the Hassan railway station, allegedly sold her baby to Shanthamma, a retired nurse and resident of Rangolegundi locality. She said Shanthamma’s neighbour, identified as Gayatri, introduced Jyothi to the former nurse and helped them strike a deal.
Later, Shanthamma allegedly sold the baby to Manjula Devaraj, a childless woman from Belur, on September 17. Now, the toddler is in Kamadhenu Child Centre.
During investigation, the CWC team discovered that Shanthamma was allegedly involved in a similar operation, and that child is now seven years old. DWC’s Padma said Jyothi allegedly borrowed money from Shanthamma even before she delivered her baby.
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