Daijiworld Media Network - Kalaburagi (SP)

Kalaburagi, Feb 26: A female child born on January 9 this year to Ramachandra Rathod and Anasubai couple, which lives in the community hall of Chandunayaka community hall in Chincholi taluk in the district had been sold for Rs 15,000. The deal was finalized with the assistance of a volunteer under 'Asha' scheme of the government, the police found during the investigation. It was also found that Anasubai bought a golden chain out of the sale proceeds.

The couple ekes out a living by working as coolies. They live in the community hall in the said Tanda as they do not have any house to live. The couple already has four daughters and when Anasubai delivered female baby again, she did not bother to breastfeed it as the couple wanted it to allow it to die a slow death, it is said. As the child was sold in the meantime, it survived.

After getting information that the newborn was sold by the couple, government officials had visited the parents to know the truth, but the couple told them that the child had died. When the officials persistently questioned her, Anasubai revealed that she had bought a golden chain out of the sale proceeds of the child.

The officials got to know that the child was sold to Hyderabad-based pastor, T Paul Shankarappa - Sharada couple. In this trade, Asha volunteer, Suvarna, had functioned as facilitator. Now the police are trying to find out how Suvarna got to know about Paul. As Paul is aware that adoption of a child has to be backed by legal formalities, the officials are probing from the angle of child trafficking too. Although Suvarna told the police that Paul couple wanted to adopt the child as it was childless, this claim has been found to be false.

The child, which was rescued, has been entrusted to the care of Amoolya child care centre in the city. Chincholi police, who have registered cases against the two couples and Suvarna, are investigating.