Newborn infant sold for Rs.7500 to perform mother's last rites

Coimbatore: In a shocking incident in Sulur, a newborn male infant was sold for Rs.7500 by a relative for performing the last rites of the mother who had passed away, minutes after giving birth. The Child Helpline authorities and the Police Department are investigating the incident.

Coimbatore: In a shocking incident in Sulur, a newborn male infant was sold for Rs.7500 by a relative for performing the last rites of the mother who had passed away, minutes after giving birth. The Child Helpline authorities and the Police Department are investigating the incident.

Arulselvi (22) from Mayiladuthurai in Nagapattinam was working in a private company in Sulur. She was admitted in the Sulur Government Hospital for her delivery. Unfortunately, she died minutes after giving birth to a baby boy.

Arulselvi's sister's husband Anand Raj is said to have sold the baby to a couple Rajan and Selvi for Rs. 7500 as he reportedly did not have money to perform the last rites for Arulselvi.

Rajan and Selvi are alleged to have handed over the baby to their relatives in Palladam to help them raise the baby. The public in the area on suspicion had dialled Child Helpline and reported the case. The Child Helpline authorities Joseph, Krishna Kumari, Bhuvaneshwari and led by Uma Devi reached the spot and took custody of the baby and handed the baby to the Welfare Committee. As the baby weighed less than the healthy baby weight, he was admitted to the Coimbatore GH for treatment.

Following this, the Child Helpline authorities and the Police Department investigated Anand Raj. The child help line Co-ordinator Uma Devi said, "As per the information we received, we took custody of the baby and handed to the Welfare Committee for the sake of the baby's safety. This incident is a clear example of the lack of awareness among the public about child welfare. The Government has provided several schemes to ensure welfare of such children.

The Child Helpline 1098 is active 24/7 to ensure safety of children. The illegal trading of a child only affects the child's future. I urge the public to stay alert and be aware. Parents or guardians who are unable to raise the child can hand them over to the Government for their secure future," she added.

The incident where a just-born child was sold for Rs. 7500 has created a flutter in the neighbourhood, with residents shocked at the callousness of Arulselvi's own family member.

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