Members of the Belagavi District Child Protection Committee and Belagavi City Police have rescued a 20-month-old baby girl said to have been sold by her parents to a family from Goa.
The baby was rescued as the girl was brought to Belagavi after her biological parents Rajendra Metri and his wife Shilpa Metri from Sangli, Maharashtra, sold their daughter to Smitha Wadikar from Goa.
The deal was mediated by Vandana Surave from Belagavi, Ravi Raut and Rani Raut from Maharashtra.
The incident happened a few days ago. Child Protection Committee members acted on a tip-off and rescued the child with assistance from the Belagavi City Police, police sources said.
All those involved in the transaction have been named as accused in the case.
The transfer happened in a private hotel in Joida of Uttara Kannada. Belagavi Police have registered a case and transferred it to Uttara Kannada.
Meanwhile, officers suspected it to be an offence involving accused from three States. The assistance of police from neighbouring States will be sought after due clearances from the headquarters, a senior officer said.
A team from Belagavi Police Commissionerate visited Uttara Kannada on Thursday, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Belagavi, S.K. Satyanayak said.
“Special teams from the two districts are coordinating in the investigation of the case. They will ascertain if this is a single transaction or it is a part of a child sale racket,” he added.
Published – January 09, 2025 11:22 pm IST
