Police on Friday rescued a newborn girl, who had allegedly been sold to a childless couple for Rs 7,000 in Jajpur district.
Suresh Das, a daily wager, and his wife Lizarani Das of Praktapur village under the Mangalpur police station, already had two daughters. Lizarani had delivered another on May 17.
Struck by penury and the birth of their third daughter, the couple allegedly sold the newborn to Subash Palei and Madhusmita Palei of Champeipal village.
An Anganwadi Worker of Prakatapur informed Rasulpur block Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Manjula Rath on Thursday about the matter, for which the CDPO lodged an FIR against both the couples.
Police rescued the child and handed it over to the District Child Protection Committee for its proper care.