Four held in Odisha after mother ‘sells’ infant to childless couple for Rs 800

The accused were arrested under section 370(4) (trafficking of a minor) and section 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

According to police, the infant’s mother, identified as Karmi Murmu (25), gave the baby away when her husband, Musu Murmu, was away in Tamil Nadu where he works. The couple have another daughter, who is seven years old.

“After returning from Tamil Nadu, when Musu didn’t find his wife and child at home, he went to his in-laws’ house. He found his wife there, and she told him their infant daughter was no more,” a police officer said, adding that the father came to know about the alleged sale of the infant after talking to neighbours, following which he filed a police complaint.

After retrieving the child from the couple – Phulamani Marndi (40) and her husband Akil Tudu (45) – who had allegedly bought her, police handed her over to the child welfare committee (CWC) of Mayurbhanj district.

The alleged mediator arrested in the case was identified as Mahi Murmu (50).

The infant’s mother told reporters she decided to “sell” the child a month ago due to not having enough money to take care of her.

Phulamani Marndi said she and her husband decided to buy the child because they did not have any kids.

According to Mayurbhanj CWC chairperson Jagdish Chandra Ghadai, the infant has been handed over to her father and grandmother. “Had there been no claimants, the girl would have stayed at the child care institution,” Ghadei told The Indian Express.