A couple staying in a city slum allegedly sold their 22-day-old son for Rs 6,000 to a couple of the Samastipur area in Bihar, said Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Khordha member Benudhar Senapati here on Wednesday.
The incident came to light after city-based Ruchika Childline lodged a complaint with the Kharavel Nagar police. Based on the information of the Childline, the police detained the child’s parents.
According to Senapati, Shyam Chandra Rao and his wife Pramila of the slum in Satyanagar had allegedly sold their newborn son to Ranjit Choudhury and his wife Chandini of Bihar. Sources said Rao, a poor daily labourer, sold his son in order to ensure his child’s long life.