Sensational allegation of newborn sale in Bagbasa; Child Line rescues infant, reunites with mother

A sensational allegation of the sale of a newborn child surfaced on the first day of the New Year in the Dharmanagar subdivision of North Tripura district, triggering widespread outrage in the area.

According to sources, the Dharmanagar Child Line team received information that a woman had allegedly sold her eleven-day-old newborn baby. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, Child Line intervened, rescued the infant, and reunited the child with her mother.

The incident took place in Ward No. 1 of Bagbasa Gram Panchayat under the Dharmanagar subdivision. Child Line official Ashim Dey stated that the team received the information on Thursday afternoon. Following the tip-off, a written complaint was immediately submitted to Bagbasa Police Station, and an investigation was launched.

During the inquiry, Child Line officials learned that the newborn was being kept by Dilip Nath and his wife Champa Nath of Lalcherra village, under the jurisdiction of Kadamtala Police Station. A Child Line team comprising Ashim Dey, Debarati Roy, and supervisor Prithviraj Chanda visited the Lalcherra residence. Upon questioning, the couple admitted to keeping the child, after which the infant was rescued.

Sources said the child was born eleven days ago at Makunda Hospital in Assam. After the rescue, the newborn was brought back to Bagbasa and handed over to the mother after she expressed her willingness to keep the child. The handover was conducted formally in the presence of the Gram Panchayat Pradhan, other Panchayat members, and local residents.

However, local sources alleged that the newborn was sold for Rs 5,000. They claimed that the incident may not be solely linked to poverty and suggested that a deeper conspiracy could be involved, which requires thorough police investigation.

When contacted, Officer-in-Charge of Bagbasa Police Station, Suraj Debbarma, stated that the child was recovered from an area under Kadamtala Police Station jurisdiction.

The incident has sparked anger and concern among residents of Bagbasa village. While the timely intervention of Child Line ensured the safety of the newborn, locals have demanded an impartial and comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth behind the alleged sale.