Infant sold for Rs.1,000 in Odisha

A tribal man allegedly sold his two-month-old infant to a woman in Odisha's Malkangiri district for Rs.1,000 to eke out a living and provide medicines to his ailing wife.

Sukura Muduli and his wife Dhumusi Muduli of Chittapalli-2 of Korkunda block gave their son to an ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker in February 2015, district child protection officer Narayan Das told IANS on Saturday.

He said after getting the information, his department conducted an inquiry on Saturday and found that the child was given to the ASHA worker.

"After an inquiry, we found that Sukura, who earns his livelihood by cutting trees, has handed over his baby to the ASHA worker. His wife is mentally unstable. The tribal man has denied selling his baby," said Das.

The ASHA worker paid Rs.1,000 to the couple, he said, adding the baby boy was in the possession of the worker. - IANS