25-day-old baby sold by father for Rs 30,000 rescued in Assam

The baby was rescued after her whereabouts in Silapathar became known. (Executive)

North Lakhimpur, Assam:

A poor laborer in Assam’s Dhemaji district allegedly sold his 25-day-old baby for Rs 30,000, prompting the intervention of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which rescued the child from a doctor’s home, officials said on Tuesday.

District CWC chairman Rupali Deka Borgohain said a complaint has been lodged at Silapathar police station against the baby’s parents, the buyer and the middlemen involved in the transaction.

According to the complaint, the girl was born on October 4 at Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, but her parents, Budhiman Bora and Sabita Bora, eloped soon after her birth.

Borgain said the father is a laborer and the family is struggling financially.

“The child helpline, Dhemaji, then investigated and tracked down the parents. They were ordered to report to the CWC but did not comply,” Borgohain said in the complaint.

However, police said the parents later took the child from Assam Medical College and Hospital and sold her to Peg Sohoriya and her husband for Rs 30,000.

The child was eventually rescued after her whereabouts at Dr Chandrajit Dawley’s residence in Silapathar came to light.

The investigation identified two people, Bubul Bora and Dilip Saikia, as directly involved in the sale of the baby.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, police said.

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