Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda   

Couple held for `buying' infant

Staff Reporter

IN MAMA'S LAP: Islawath Lakshmi with her 15-day-old baby at the District Police Office at Nalgonda on Friday. Aruna, who `purchased' the infant, is also seen.

NALGONDA: A poverty-stricken tribal couple — Islawath Jagapathi and Lakshmi — of Gudi thanda in Devarakonda mandal in Nalgonda district allegedly sold off their 15-day-old baby to a couple hailing from Karnataka two days ago.

But, following a tip-off, the Devarakonda police swung into action and arrested Lakshmi and the couple on Friday. M.M. Bhagwat, SP, told reporters that Gunja China Ramu (21) and Aruna (19) of Alli village of Gulbarga district in Karnataka `purchased' the fourth daughter of the tribal couple for Rs.1,500 at Gouridevikunta.

"Our police party intercepted the couple at Mallepally and recovered the infant," the SP said. The police launched a manhunt to nab Jagapathi and his brother Raju, who allegedly brokered the deal.

According to Mr. Bhagwat, China Ramu, a petty vendor, befriended Raju at a hotel in Mallepally and told him that he wanted to `buy' a baby. Raju told him about his brother's newborn baby and managed to convince Jagapathi and Lakshmi to sell their daughter. The `transaction' was arranged at Gouridevikunta, native place of Lakshmi, the SP said.

"We are probing the motive behind the purchase of the girl. A thorough enquiry will be done to check the veracity of the couple's claim on adopting the girl," he said.

Ramu told newsmen that he really wanted to adopt the girl. "My mother has been pestering us for having failed to conceive in the three years of our marriage."

Criminal case booked

A criminal case was booked against the trio under Section 372 (sale of girl under the age of 18 for unlawful purposes) of the Indian Penal Code. "We are booking the same case against the tribal parents to send out a strong signal in the community," the SP observed. The SP appreciated Devarakonda Inspector K. Manohar and his team for cracking the case.

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Couple held for `buying' infant

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