A very shocking incident has come to light from Assam’s Sivasagar district. A 22-year-old unmarried woman allegedly sold her newborn son for ₹50,000. The incident occurred at the Sivasagar Civil Hospital on June 23.

The woman allegedly sold the child shortly after delivering the baby at the hospital. The authorities also confirmed that the sale occurred before the mother was formally discharged from the hospital.

Child Welfare Officials Had Warned the Family

According to police reports, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the Sishu Kalyan Samiti had received prior information about a potential sale. Following which they visited the hospital and attempted to counsel the woman and her family against any such action.

However, despite these efforts, the baby was reportedly sold in a secret deal. The police also revealed that the payments were made in installments.

Three Women Arrested, Including Infant’s Mother

Reports suggest that the officials were tipped off about the suspected sale on July 10. When they attempted to locate the child, he was found to be missing. Following this, the officials filed a formal complaint with local police. Soon, a probe was initiated to trace the infant.

Following this, the police arrested three individuals in connection with the case. The arrested include the infant’s 22-year-old mother, her own mother (the child’s grandmother). The third individual arrested, shockingly, is an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker. All three women are currently being questioned by the police. The authorities are investigating the identity of the buyer and the baby’s current location.

Mentally Unstable Mother Unable to Name Father

As if it were not enough, the woman may be mentally unstable and is unable to identify the father of the child. Meanwhile, the investigators are examining whether this vulnerability may have been exploited by individuals involved in an illegal adoption or trafficking racket.

This recent case of child trafficking has sparked widespread concern over the safety and oversight mechanisms in public hospitals, especially concerning newborns. The incident follows a similarly disturbing discovery earlier this year in March, when a newborn’s body was found under the Dhansiri River Bridge in Golaghat district, raising fears about growing child trafficking networks in the region.

Search Continues for Infant as Probe Deepens

Meanwhile, the police and child welfare authorities are continuing their investigation. They have further launched operations to trace the missing infant. Officials are also working to identify others who may be involved in facilitating the illegal sale.