Karwar, January 14: Forced by poverty, a man and his wife tried to sell their eight-month-old girl for Rs. 2,000 in Ankola on Friday.
B. Sikandar Ganisaab and his wife Naseema went around from house to house in Keni and Old Bazaar area of Ankola pleading with people to take the child. Named Rajamabi, the baby was sleeping in the arms of her mother.
Residents informed the police about the incident. The couple, who fled the spot, were later seen at the Ankola bus-stand.
Loss in business
When the police nabbed them, Ganisaab said they hailed from Unnikeri in Harapanahalli taluk of Davangere district. They were selling clothes in Goa but suffered loss in the business. He said they had no money to return home. They had reached Ankola with great difficulty. At first, Ganisaab said he was not trying to sell the infant but was trying to pledge her for money to return home. He said he planned to take the infant back after returning the money.
Help from public
The public pooled in money and asked the couple to reach their home and not to sell the child.
The police came in for severe criticism from the public for letting off the couple without investigating the matter. Many said the police should have handed over the infant and its mother to the custody of the Department of Women and Child Development.
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