Officials in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, clarified that the reported kidnapping of a newborn was false. Investigations uncovered that the infant was not abducted but rather sold by her parents due to severe financial struggles. The police have successfully located the baby and reunited her with her mother.
The incident involved Baby Devi, a resident of Bahimar village, who gave birth to her sixth child on January 24 amidst dire economic conditions. Faced with the challenge of raising five children, the family made the difficult decision to sell the newborn to ease their financial burden.
Allegedly unable to care for the newborn, Baby Devi and her husband approached a relative, Meena Devi, also known as Malti Devi, through a mutual acquaintance, Devanti Devi, and finalized the sale. The situation took a dramatic turn on January 26 when a false narrative of the baby’s kidnapping surfaced near Laxmi Petrol Pump in the Sadar police station area, sparking panic and public outrage.
Prompt police intervention, including scrutiny of CCTV footage and mobile locations, led to the unraveling of the fabricated story. Under interrogation, Baby Devi confessed to the orchestrated scheme, leading to the arrest of Meena Devi and the safe recovery of the newborn. The authorities have emphasized that a comprehensive investigation is underway to address all aspects of the case, including the dissemination of false information and disruption of public order.
