Keonjhar: The district headquarters hospital in Keonjhar came under the scanner Thursday following allegations that a newborn had been sold for `1000 to a resident of Puruna Sahar.
Police, however, rescued the baby boy and handed him to officials of the district child protection committee (DCPC). The child was admitted to SNCU ward for treatment. A nurse was said to have brokered the deal.
Meanwhile, Collector Ashish Thakre said that the DCPC was looking into the matter and action would be taken only after the report was received.
Asked if the child was sold by her parents due to poverty, the Collector said that he could only comment after the investigation report was received.
Reports said, a Juanga woman from Gonasika panchayat under Bansapal block had delivered a child Tuesday night at the DHH.
However, the baby was found missing mysteriously near her mother Wednesday.
Later it was alleged that the child was sold to a person through a nurse. However, the woman who had taken the child denied having paid any money for it.
She told an official of the DCPC that when her mother did not want to keep the baby with her, she had taken the child for nurturing. “As I was childless, the nurse advised me to keep the baby,” she said.
On the contrary, the Juanga woman told the media that her baby was taken away in exchange for a saree and `1000. “A nurse had sent me to Puruna Bazar where I purchased milk for the baby. Then I took the baby to Magu Sahi where I gave him to Dhanu Nayak,” the Juanga woman said.
DCPC officer Debangana Barik said that the baby was rescued and had been sold for a price, but the woman who had taken the baby denied any deal it.
Newborn ‘sold’ for Rs 1,000, probe on
