Three arrested for buying baby near Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: A couple and a woman were arrested for buying a baby boy for Rs 80,000 from a poor woman at Angalakurichi near Pollachi in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
The arrested trio hae been identified as Gokila, 42, and her husband Rajeshkumar, 43, of Annapuram near Podanur and S Powlina alias Nirmala, 41, a social worker at Puliyankandi near Aliyar.
Police said Rajeshkumar, a worker in a lathe workshop, and his wife decided to adopt or buy a baby as they could not conceive their own child. Nirmala helped the couple purchase the baby from Karuppthal of Angalakurichi.
Karuppthal's husband had his legs amputated as he was suffering from diabetes. The woman, who has three kids, gave birth to a baby boy in Aliyar primary health centre on August 15. Nirmala approached Karuppathal for her baby boy and she agreed to sell her baby for Rs 80,000, due to increased financial strain.
On September 6, Nirmala paid Rs 80,000 and handed over the baby to the couple. The next day, Childline received information regarding this transaction. Angeline, a counsellor with Childline, conducted an inquiry in the village on Tuesday.
The counsellor lodged a complaint with the Aliyar police, who registered a case against the couple and Nirmala under Section 81 of the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act. The trio were remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday. The baby was admitted to Pollachi Government Hospital.