Girl, 9, sold by parents, cops rescue infant
The Kerala police have arrested five individuals, including the infant’s mother, for allegedly selling a 9-month-old baby girl for Rs 1.5 lakh. The incident took place on June 15 in Tirur of Malappuram district. The arrested individuals include the baby’s mother Keerthana (23), her partner Shiva (24), Aadhi Lakshmi (40), Senthil Kumar (49), and Premalatha (45). All the accused are reportedly natives of Tamil Nadu.According to police, Keerthana and Shiva had been living in a rented house in Tirur for the past three weeks. On June 15, they allegedly sold the baby to Aadhi Lakshmi, a resident of Kozhikode. The baby is from Keerthana’s first marriage. She had married Shiva three months ago.The crime came to light on June 16 when neighbours reported the baby’s sudden disappearance. During the investigation, police found that Senthil Kumar and Premalatha acted as intermediaries in the transaction.“Initially, we thought of a trafficking angle; however, according to Aadhi Lakshmi’s statement, she bought the child to raise,” said Sujith RP, Sub Inspector of Tirur police station.Police seized Rs 1.3 lakh from Keerthana and Shiva. The baby has been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after undergoing a medical examination.The Tirur police have booked the five individuals under Section 143(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for trafficking a child under eighteen, and Sections 75 (cruelty to a child) and 81 (sale and procurement of children) of the Juvenile Justice Act.
THE Kerala police have arrested five people, including the infant’s mother, for allegedly selling a 9-month-old baby girl for Rs 1.5 lakh. The incident occurred on June 15 in Tirur, Malappuram district.
The arrested people include the baby’s mother Keerthana (23), her partner Shiva (24), Aadhi Lakshmi (40), Senthil Kumar (49) and Premalatha (45). All the accused are reportedly natives of Tamil Nadu.
According to police, Keerthana and Shiva had been living in a rented house in Tirur for the past three weeks. On June 15, they allegedly sold the baby to Aadhi Lakshmi, a resident of Kozhikode. The baby is from Keerthana’s first marriage. She had married Shiva three months ago.
The crime came to light on June 16 when neighbours reported the baby’s sudden disappearance. During the investigation, police found that Senthil Kumar and Premalatha acted as intermediaries in the transaction.
“Initially, we thought of a trafficking angle; however, according to Aadhi Lakshmi’s statement, she bought the child to raise,” said Sujith RP, sub-inspector of Tirur police station.
Police seized Rs 1.3 lakh from Keerthana and Shiva. The baby has been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after undergoing a medical examination.
The Tirur police have booked the five individuals under Section 143(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for trafficking a child under 18, and Sections 75 (cruelty to a child) and 81 (sale and procurement of children) of the Juvenile Justice Act.
