In a deeply disturbing turn of events, the Mansa district police in Punjab have apprehended an unemployed couple, both struggling with drug addiction, along with a scrap dealer. They are accused of trafficking the couple’s six-month-old son, a crime allegedly committed to sustain their drug use.
Bareta Station House Officer Baldev Singh stated that the child’s parents, Sandeep Singh and Gurman Kaur, and the alleged buyer, Sanju Singh, have been booked under Section 143 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for human trafficking. The rescued infant is now under the care of the Mansa child protection authorities, placed at the Sri Anant Anath Ashram, a government-approved orphanage in Bathinda.
Why did the parents sell their child?
The case came to light following a complaint lodged by the infant’s maternal aunt, Ritu Verma. Investigations revealed that the couple, residing in Akbarpur Khudal village, found themselves unable to care for their child due to their severe drug addiction. Sanju’s wife, Aarti, has also been named in the First Information Report (FIR) and is currently being sought by the police. The authorities are continuing their investigation to ascertain if more individuals were involved in this heinous act.
Infant sold to scrap dealer for ₹1.8 Lakh
According to police reports, the couple handed over their infant son to the scrap dealer’s family in Budhlada town in exchange for ₹1.8 lakh. The scrap dealer, who reportedly desired a male heir as he already had four daughters, and the couple reportedly formalized the transaction with a document resembling an ‘adoption deed’. Local sources suggest that the money received was primarily spent on drugs, with some used for household expenses. Gurman, who allegedly developed a drug addiction after her marriage, was a former state-level wrestler.
During police questioning, both Sandeep and Gurman reportedly confessed to their drug addiction and admitted that it drove them to sell their only child. The complainant, Ritu Verma, has also accused Sanju and Aarti of exploiting her sister’s financial vulnerability and pressuring them into relinquishing their baby.
Political reactions to the drug crisis
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, with the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of neglecting the escalating drug menace in the state. Bajwa highlighted the tragic sale of the child as a stark indicator of the severity of the drug crisis, lamenting that the mother’s past athletic achievements were overshadowed by her addiction and her husband’s involvement, leaving a ‘stain on the state’s history’.
Child rights commission intervenes
Taking immediate notice of the media reports, the Punjab Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairman Kanwardeep Singh has issued a notice to the Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). The notice mandates the swift recovery of the infant and his immediate handover to the child welfare committee. The SSP has also been directed to take appropriate action against the couple and the family that received the child, with a report on the proceedings due by October 31.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Budhlada) Sikander Singh Cheema confirmed the infant’s safe transfer to the child welfare committee, while Bareta Station House Officer Baldev Singh affirmed that a case has been registered against all involved parties.