Bettiah: The Pipra Kothi police in East Champaran on Wednesday evening arrested a woman from Motihari on the charge of buying a newborn for Rs 80,000.

According to Abhishek Rajan, officer-in-charge of Pipra Kothi, the arrest was effected from Mission Chowk at Motihari around 6pm. The woman had bought the baby from her neighbour Bangar Mallik, who is at large.

"The accused woman has been sent to jail. A search is on to nab the main accused, Bangar," Rajan said. "During interrogation, the woman confessed to have bought the baby for Rs 80,000."

The baby has also been repatriated with its parents after tests. The police said Safiullah Ansari, who resides near a petrol pump in Piprakothi, had on April 30 lodged an FIR saying his baby had been taken away by some unidentified persons.

Some unidentified person gained access to his house on April 29 and walked away with the baby after spraying some substances on him and his wife, Safiullah had said in his FIR. The baby was handed over to Safiullah on Thursday.