Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: A poor couple was allegedly forced to sell their newborn girl because they could not foot the bill of a private nursing home in Kendrapara district.

The incident came to light after the child's father lodged a complaint with the Kendrapara town police station.

Nirakar Moharana, 35, a resident of Righagada village under Rajnagar tehsil of Kendrapara district, claimed that he had taken his wife Gitanjali, 33, to the district headquarters hospital in Kendrapara on July 30 for delivery of their third child. But the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), who accompanied them to the hospital, had later prevailed on them to shift her to a private nursing home for better care. On August 1, Gitanjali gave birth to a girl. It was a normal delivery.

The couple was billed Rs 7,500 by the nursing home authorities, which they could not afford to pay. Later, the couple had to sell the newborn to a childless couple in an arrangement facilitated by the private nursing home, alleged Nirakar in his complaint.

"I am a poor daily wage earner. I had thought the delivery would be conducted free of cost at the government hospital. But the village health worker took us to a private hospital. I was shocked when I was charged Rs 7,500. I was not in a position to pay the amount because I had less than Rs 1,000 in my pocket. The hospital authorities did not let me go until the bill was cleared," he said.

"Later they proposed that we sell the child to a childless couple. Finding no other alternative, I had to sell the baby girl," he said.

Acting on the complaint, Kendrapara town police rescued the child and handed her over to the parents. Kendrapara police station inspector Bijoy Kumar Bishi said: "We have registered a case under section 372 (selling of minor child for unlawful and immoral purpose) of Indian Penal Code and section 81 of Juvenile Justice Act. Those who had allegedly bought the baby have been identified. We will take action against the culprits, including the nursing home authorities."