Odisha Police Rescues 28-Day-Old Infant Allegedly Sold by Parents

Fast Summary:

• Police in Odisha’s Bolangir district rescued a 28-day-old baby girl allegedly sold by her parents for ₹20,000 due to extreme poverty.
• The rescue occurred on July 28, 2025, at the home of a couple in Paikamal, Bargarh district. The infant was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
• No arrests or detentions were made as no formal complaint was filed.
• Bolangir district CWC chairperson Lina Babu mentioned that rescuing the infant was prioritized and an inquiry would commence soon.
• Allegations emerged that Nila and Kanak Rana from Bagdera village under Bhaleigaon panchayat sold their newborn citing financial distress. The couple denied selling her but stated they transferred custody for better upbringing.
• The receiving family also denied any purchase but admitted taking the child due to her biological parents’ poverty.
• Nila Rana has three daughters from his first marriage; kanak Rana has one daughter from hers. Both remarried.
• A similar case of newborn sale occurred in November 2024 when another baby was allegedly sold by her mother in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

indian Opinion Analysis:

This incident highlights critical issues related to poverty-driven vulnerabilities and child welfare practices in India. While economic hardships are cited as reasons behind such actions, transferring custody for monetary or other reasons raises concerns about legal oversight and ethical considerations surrounding child protection laws.

The swift action by police and CWC to rescue the infant showcases institutional responsiveness; however, gaps remain regarding formal reporting mechanisms since no arrests or complaints were registered initially. This underscores challenges in enforcing legal protections effectively without proactive intervention.

Further inquiry into this case suggested by officials could help uncover systemic failures contributing to such incidents while reinforcing public understanding of available welfare support systems-essential steps toward preventing recurrence of similar cases across vulnerable communities.

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