tripura-newborn-sold-reunited-after-leader-s-help

A tribal woman in Tripura's Dhalai district, overwhelmed by severe poverty following her husband's death, sold her newborn daughter for Rs 5,000, an official said on Saturday. 

 

The infant, just four days old, was rescued from a couple in Hezamara, West Tripura district, and reunited with her mother after opposition leader Jitendra Choudhury intervened, sources reported.

 

Mormati Tripura, 39, from Taraban Colony in Gandacherra subdivision, gave birth at home on Wednesday. 

 

The following day, she sold the baby to a couple for Rs 5,000, citing extreme poverty since her husband's demise five months earlier, according to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Arindam Das.

 

"Already burdened with three children, Mormati could not afford another child in the face of severe financial strain. Desperation likely drove her to sell the baby. After receiving an alert, we swiftly retrieved the infant and reunited her with her mother the next day," Das explained.

 

Das assured that ongoing support would be provided to the family and confirmed that necessary aid had already been extended to Mormati and her child at their residence.

 

The distressing incident came to light after opposition leader Jitendra Choudhury shared a video in which Mormati confessed to selling her newborn due to extreme poverty. This prompted Chief Secretary J K Singh to take immediate action on Friday.

 

Choudhury alleged that Mormati's husband, Purnajoy, who supported the family by selling firewood, died due to a lack of proper medical care amidst dire financial circumstances. Additionally, the family lacked a Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card, he added.

 

Choudhury criticised both the BJP government and the Tipra Motha-led Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) for failing to assist distressed people.

 

"Without government intervention, more such tragedies are inevitable in tribal areas," he warned.