Argus News - Odisha Police Rescue Toddler Allegedly Sold For Rs1 Lakh, Two Detained

Balasore, Feb 15: Odisha Police have rescued a two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old boy who was allegedly sold by his father to a man for Rs1 lakh in Nilgiri area in Balasore district, officials said on Sunday.

The incident, which has shocked the state, came to light after a video purportedly showing the father bargaining with a buyer surfaced on social media.

Officials said the child was rescued from Chiminibhati area and handed over to the Child Welfare Committee. Both the father, identified as Rakesh Kumar Behera alias Kua, and the buyer have been detained. “Further investigation is underway,” Nilgiri Sub‑Divisional Police Officer Pramod Kumar Mallick said.

According to police sources, Behera, a mason, allegedly accepted Rs50,000 as the first instalment. He reportedly told investigators that financial hardship had driven him to the act.

“We have four children and are facing difficulty in raising them. A known person arranged the buyer, and I handed over the baby,” Behera told reporters. The child was born to Behera’s second wife, who lives separately, sources said.

The case came to police attention after a local activist lodged a complaint at Nilgiri police station, following circulation of the video. The Argus News, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.

The incident has raised concerns over child welfare and the vulnerability of families facing economic distress in the state. Social activists have urged stronger social safety nets and community vigilance to prevent such cases. Police said they are probing the role of intermediaries and whether similar transactions have taken place in the area.

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The rescued child is currently under the care of the Child Welfare Committee, which will decide on further rehabilitation measures. Authorities emphasised that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in the sale of minors.