Taking suo motu cognizance of the "baby deal" on a social networking site, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday set four-week deadline for ludhiana Police Commissioner to submit a report on the matter.
Besides, NHRC has also sought reports from the Union Women and Child Ministry and the Delhi Police Commissioner. The Commission took suo motu note on the basis of news reports highlighting how a newborn was being sold from one hand to another thrice by striking a deal on Facebook. The Commission, in its order, has observed that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise a serious violation of human rights of the baby.
Born on April 9 this year in ludhiana, the baby boy exchanged hands thrice in 10 days — first for Rs45,000, then for Rs3 lakh, and later for Rs8 lakh after he was put up on sale on Facebook. The child was allegedly abducted by his maternal grandfather on April 10 and sold off for Rs45,000 with the help of Sunita, a nurse and Gurpreet Singh, another employee of the same nursing home.
"The baby was later sold to a hospital lab assistant for Rs3 lakh and finally to a Delhi businessman for Rs8 lakh," the statement said quoting newspaper reports. Four persons have been arrested in this connection.