NT NETWORK
PONDA
In a shocking incident, a Pune-based woman sold her 11-month-old child to a Pernem-based family for Rs 2 lakh recently in a deal that took place at Ponda.
In this connection, Ponda police have arrested four persons including the mother of the child, buyer and two others involved in the deal.
Police have also managed to rescue the child from Pernem. The child has been presently kept with Child Welfare Committee, said police inspector Harish Madkaikar while speaking to this daily.
The accused persons involved in the crime have been identified as Shaila Patil, a resident of Pune, Amar Moraje (38), resident of Tuem, Pernem, Anant Damaji (34), resident of Agarwada, Pernem and Yogesh Gosavi (42), resident of Rautwada, Pernem.
According to the police, the deal was struck in Ponda town in the last week of March and it came to light after the husband of the accused woman filed a complaint with the police.
As Shaila Patil, the mother of the child, was in need of money, she sold the child without her husband’s knowledge. Anant Damaji and Yogesh Gosavi, two of her friends, helped her in striking the deal by acting as mediators.
After selling the child, Patil left for Pune and disclosed about the deal to her husband, who demanded the child back.
Subsequently, he reached Pernem along with his wife and demanded the child back from the Pernem family, which had bought the child. However, the family refused to return the child following which he lodged a complaint with the police. A Mapusa-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) helped him in filing the case. Police conducted an inquiry and arrested all the accused.
Police have registered an offence under Sections 372, 373 read with 34 of IPC, 8 of Goa Children’s Act and 80, 81 of Juvenile Justice Act. Further investigation is under process. Police sub-inspector Melson Culaso under the supervision of Madkaikar is investigating the case