Mukkoodal police are on the lookout for seven persons in connection with sale of two children. The accused include the mother of the children.
The police said a pregnant woman, R. Devi, 27, of Tirupur district, came to the house of her relative Viyagammal Mary in Mayilappapuram near Mukkoodal in March along with her two-year-old daughter after her husband deserted her.
Since she feared that she could not raise the children without a considerable income, she reportedly discussed with Viyagammal the idea of selling the children. After selling the two-year-old daughter to a childless couple from the same area, Devi, who gave birth to a female baby again in a hospital in Surandai in Tenkasi district five days ago, sold the newborn to a couple from Veerakeralampudhur in Tenkasi district.
As Mukkoodal police came to know of the sale of the children for about ₹2 lakh, they alerted District Child Protection Unit (DCPU). Subsequently, the children were rescued on Tuesday. The children were handed over to ‘Saranalayam’, a child reception centre in Tirunelveli Junction.
Based on the complaint from the DCPU, Mukkoodal police have registered case against seven persons, including Devi, who are absconding.
