Mother sells newborn in Bengal, child rescued

Forced by abject poverty, a woman sold her newborn child for Rs.13,000 to a childless couple in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, an official said Saturday.

The baby born May 25 has been now rescued and is in the care of the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

"The mother is a slum dweller and begs for a living. She sold the newborn -- her fourth child -- for Rs.13,000. After we got to know about it, we traced the baby and he is now under the care of CWC," an official of the district social welfare department told IANS.

"While the mother and the couple who bought the child have not been arrested, we have submitted a report about the incident to the district administration which may take suitable action," added the official.

The child will be kept under the custody of the CWC for 60 days and will be put up for adoption if the biological mother refuses to take him back.

"If the biological mother does not come forward and take back the infant after 60 days, we will ensure the baby is given in adoption to a family which can take care of him," said Subarna Mitra, centre co-ordinator of NGO Child Line, that helped in rescuing the baby.