In a heart-wrenching incident in Bagdera village, under Bhaleigaon Panchayat in Titilagarh sub-division of Bolangir district, Odisha, a poverty-stricken couple has been accused of selling their newborn daughter for ₹20,000.
The allegations, which surfaced on July 27, 2025, have reignited concerns about the dire socio-economic conditions plaguing the region and the exploitation of vulnerable families.
The couple, identified as Nila Rana and his second wife, Kanak Rana, reportedly sold their second daughter, born on July 1, 2025, at Titilagarh Hospital, to a couple from Paikamal block. Nila, who had previously abandoned his first wife and their three daughters, married Kanak, who already had a daughter from a previous relationship.
Citing extreme poverty, the couple allegedly handed over their newborn to another family, though Nila claims it was an act of necessity to ensure the child’s care, not a sale. However, residents have strongly refuted this, asserting that the transaction was a clear case of child trafficking.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Bolangir, a district known for its migration-prone and impoverished communities. Reports suggest that child trafficking is not an isolated issue in the region. Similar cases have been documented in Titilagarh (two instances), Bolangir town (one instance), and Lathor (one instance). In Lathor, intervention by the Deputy Chief Minister led to arrests, but other cases, such as one in Malpada, were allegedly suppressed by local authorities.
Local residents and activists have pointed to the existence of an organised child trafficking racket, which preys on destitute families. These groups reportedly purchase newborns at low prices from impoverished parents and sell them for exorbitant amounts, often exceeding lakhs, in other states. The Bagdera case has prompted swift action, with the local police launching a probe to ascertain the details and identify those involved.
