Two-month-old baby sold for Rs 1.70 lakh in Karnal, rescued from Himachal Pradesh

In a shocking case of alleged child trafficking, a two-month-old baby girl was sold for Rs 1.70 lakh in Karnal. The issue came to light after the baby’s mother, Seema, a resident of Budha Khera village in the district, filed a complaint with the Ram Nagar police station on Saturday. The police have traced and rescued the infant from Jawalaji in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

According to the police, the girl child was sold through mediators. With the efforts of Child Welfare Committee (CWC), along with police officials, the child has been brought back to Karnal safely. The baby has been placed in MDD Bal Bhawan, a Child Care Institute (CCI). The police have also arrested a woman identified as Suman from Himachal Pradesh.

Giving details, Sandeep, SHO Ram Nagar, said that the girl child was sold for Rs 1.70 lakh. However, the deal was made through middlemen, making the transaction complex. The infant was handed over to the accused during Navratras on April 4. The middlemen gave Rs 95,000 to Seema, the actual mother of the girl.

In her complaint, Seema alleged that she was misled by a man associated with an organisation who promised free medical treatment for her baby. Believing her child would receive treatment, she agreed to take her to the organisation, only to later realise that a deal was being struck to sell her baby.

However, CWC chairman Umesh Chanana claimed it to be a case of human trafficking and said that both the mother and father were equally involved in child trafficking. “I have written a letter to the Superintendent of Police, Ganga Ram Punia, to constitute a dedicated SIT to investigate the case, as it seems to be an organised nexus,” said Chanana.

He added that there is a legal procedure for adoption if any couple wants to adopt a child, for which the couple has to apply at Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA). Couples can also apply online.

Haryana Tribune