Odisha woman arrested for selling daughter at Rs 800 due to gender bias and poverty
Mayurbhanj, Odisha, July 05: A poverty-stricken tribal woman from Odisha, identified as Karami Murmu, allegedly sold her eight-month-old daughter for a mere Rs 800 due to her dissatisfaction with having a second girl child. The incident took place in Khunta, Mayurbhanj district.
Karami's husband, who works as a daily wage earner in Tamil Nadu, was unaware of the incident. Distressed over the birth of another daughter, Karami expressed her concerns about the child's upbringing to her neighbor, Mahi Murmu. Acting as a mediator, Mahi brokered a deal and arranged a buyer for the infant.
Once the agreement was finalised, Karami sold her eight-month-old daughter to a couple named Phulamani and Akhil Marandi from Bipracharanpur village for a meager sum of Rs 800.
Upon the return of Musu Murmu, the child's father, from Tamil Nadu, he inquired about his second daughter. Karami falsely claimed that the baby had died, while the neighbors informed him about the sale. Puzzled by the situation, Musu filed a complaint at the Khunta police station on Monday.
Taking immediate action, the police arrested Karami, the couple who purchased the baby, and the mediator on Tuesday. The Mayurbhanj Superintendent of Police, Battula Gangadhar, revealed that Karami had gone to the market with the child but returned alone. When questioned by villagers, she falsely stated that the infant had passed away.
The police have rescued the child and placed her in childcare. SP Gangadhar confirmed that the individuals involved in the crime, including the mother, have been booked under Section 370 IPC for Human Trafficking.
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- With inputs from agencies
