“Cash for adopted child” , Tripura police rescues infant after unlawful adoption bid

Agartala: A few-days-old infant was rescued from Khowai hours after she was handed over to a childless couple by her biological parents in lieu of alleged pecuniary benefits, sources in the police department said. 

The shocking incident occurred at Katlamara hospital where the baby girl was born. However, due to the timely intervention of the police, the baby was rescued. 

The biological parents of the baby hail from the Katacherra area of Simna Assembly constituency. 

According to police sources, the child's parents had been struggling to make two square meals. 

They took the decision to ensure that the baby gets a good life. Admitting the fact that they had allowed a family to adopt their baby, the biological mother of the child, Laxmi Rani Sarkar (Das), said, 

“We didn’t receive any money in exchange for our baby. My husband is suffering from a disease. 

Due to financial constraints, we took the decision.

” Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Mohanpur, Sabyasachi Bhowmik, informed Tripura Times that although no formal complaint was lodged against the parents, the sensitive nature of the case prompted cops to act immediately. “In collaboration with Child Line, a rescue operation was subsequently launched, and the child was rescued from Khowai district,” he added. When questioned about the suspected monetary exchange, 

Bhowmik stated that neither the parents nor the family which adopted the baby disclosed anything pertaining to that. Later on Monday morning, 

Jayanti Debbarma, Chairperson of the Tripura Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TCPCR), visited the facility where the child is being kept. She said that the case is expected to be taken up by the Child Welfare Committee of West Tripura. 

“Should the biological parents be unwilling or unable to take the child back, the specialised adoption cell will proceed to identify a suitable family for her adoption,” said Debbarma. 

The biological parents of the girl are identified as Prasenjit Das and Laxmi Rani Sarkar. The couple are permanent residents of Katacherra village, which comes under the Simna police station