Bengal: Widow Sells 11-day-old Child Born Out Of Wedlock; 4 Apprehended

Following the recent headline-making incident of a woman selling her child to buy an iPhone for Instagram reels, another similar and troubling case has emerged. In the southern region of West Bengal, a 35-year-old widow, identified as Shukla Das, found herself in a dire situation after allegedly selling her 11-day-old baby, born out of wedlock, to another woman who was childless. The incident shocked the community and raised concerns about the vulnerability of children in such situations.

Shukla Das had lost her husband five years ago and later became involved with her neighbour, leading to the birth of her baby. Faced with the challenges of single parenthood and the fear of societal judgment, she took the drastic step of parting with her newborn child. The Times of India reported that she made the heart-wrenching decision to sell the baby.

However, the matter did not remain hidden for long. Alert neighbours noticed the unusual situation and promptly informed the authorities. As a result, the police intervened and rescued the baby from the buyer’s custody. The infant was then placed in a shelter home, which operates under the supervision of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, ensuring the child’s safety and well-being.

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\The gravity of the situation has led to the arrest of four individuals, including Shukla Das herself. The others involved in this distressing chain of events are the woman who “adopted” the baby, and a couple who acted as intermediaries, facilitating the entire transaction. These intermediaries reportedly took a significant share of the transaction money for their role in this unfortunate affair, as per the information provided by TOI.

The accused are now facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 317, which deals with the abandonment of a child under 12 years of age, Section 370, pertaining to buying or disposing of any person, Section 372, which addresses the selling of a minor, and Section 120 B, relating to hatching a criminal conspiracy. Additionally, they are booked under Section 88 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

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