Nilgiri (Odisha): Police in Odisha have rescued a two-and-a-half-year-old boy who was allegedly sold by his father for ₹1 lakh in Balasore district, officials said.
The incident occurred in Barisahi village under the Nilgiri Notified Area Council limits and came to public attention after a video surfaced on social media. The clip allegedly showed the child’s father negotiating with a prospective buyer. The authenticity of the video, however, could not be independently verified.
Following the circulation of the footage, a local activist filed a complaint at Nilgiri police station, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.
Nilgiri Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pramod Kumar Mallick said the child was traced to the Chiminibhati area and safely rescued. The boy has since been produced before the Child Welfare Committee for further care and protection.
Police have detained two individuals in connection with the case — the child’s father and the alleged buyer.
The father, identified as Rakesh Kumar Behera alias Kua, a mason by profession, is accused of accepting ₹50,000 as an advance payment. During questioning, he reportedly cited financial distress as the reason behind his actions.
According to police sources, Behera has been married twice, and the child in question was born to his second wife, who is currently living separately from him.
Authorities said further investigation is underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged transaction and whether additional individuals were involved.
