Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A distraught father, who was unable to cover his hospital bill to secure the release of his wife and a newborn child, was reportedly forced to “sell” his three-year-old son in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
Friday’s incident, which caused widespread outrage, led to the arrest of five individuals, including parents who took the child for “adoption,” a Press Trust of India (PTI) report said.
It said Harish Patel, a daily wage worker from Barwa Patti, sought medical care at a private hospital for his wife’s delivery. When he was unable to pay the hospital bill, the hospital staff refused to allow his wife and newborn to leave.
Desperate for funds and to mitigate his woes, Patel agreed to a fraudulent adoption arrangement for his t son in exchange for a few thousand rupees. Once the police were informed, they promptly launched an investigation and arrested five people: middleman Amresh Yadav, adoptive parents Bhola Yadav and his wife Kalawati, a fake doctor named Tara Kushwaha, and a hospital helper, Suganti.
Additionally, a constable who allegedly neglected to act on the case has been removed from active duty and reassigned to police lines. Fortunately, the child was safely rescued and has been reunited with his parents, according to Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Mishra.