Kolkata, Aug 1 (IANS): In a shocking incident, a woman was arrested on Tuesday morning on the charges of selling her newborn to another woman for Rs 4 lakh in Kolkata.

A total of six persons, including the mother Rupali Mondal, and Kalyani Guha, who purchased the newborn, have been arrested in this connection.

The four arrested also include four middlemen who played as a link in the crime.

Guha, who purchased the newborn from Mondal, is a native of West Midnapore and also had a temporary residence in Kolkata, where she got the newborn. City police sources said Mondal was a resident of Nonadanga Railway Colony under Anandapur Police Station.

Police suspect the involvement of a racket in the crime and have initiated a thorough investigation.

A case has been registered at Anandapur Police Station under the East Division of Kolkata Police.

This is the second such case in the state in nine days where parents have been arrested for selling their child.

On July 23, a couple Jaideb Chowdhury (father) and Sathi Chowdhury (mother) were arrested by the cops of Khardah Police station in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal for selling their child to get money for buying alcohol. Kanai Chowdhury, the grandfather of the child, was also arrested.