A newborn baby girl was saved by the Odisha police in Paikmal, Bargarh district, after her biological parents reportedly sold her for Rs 20,000 due to severe financial hardship.

The police teams from Titlagarh and Paikmal, in collaboration with the District Child Protection Officer, revealed this troubling case following a tip-off. The child’s parents, Neel Rana and Kanak Rana from Bagader village within the Titlagarh jurisdiction, confessed to selling their daughter because they could not support their family.

Neel, who has three daughters from a previous marriage, encountered worsening financial difficulties after marrying Kanak. Their choice, made out of desperation, was intercepted just in time. Authorities are currently probing the details surrounding the sale, and the rescued infant has been relocated to a secure shelter where she will receive appropriate care and legal protection.

This incident has raised alarms about the increasing number of child trafficking cases driven by poverty in the area, leading to demands for enhanced social support systems and more vigilant community oversight.