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Stolen child sold for Rs 500 in TN

Our correspondent in Pondicherry

The Puduchatram police in Cuddalore district of neighbouring Tamil Nadu are investigating the case of a stolen female child, who was sold for Rs 500 and branded with a hot iron rod.

The police, who have registered a case, said the child has been rescued and that they are on the lookout for her alleged kidnappers, who claimed to be relatives.

According to a police complaint filed by Velmurugan of Panayur village, near Marakkanam, in the union territory of Pondicherry, his daughters Jaya, 5, and Valli, 3, were missing for a few months after Subbarayan and wife Kannammal stayed with his family. Their eldest daughter Manchula, 11, was spared.

The couple reportedly escaped with the children after spending a week with Velmurugan. Incidentally, all three were born to Velmurugan's wife, Mallika, from an earlier marriage.

Velmurugan traced Valli to Kambalimedu village. The child had been left in the custody of Subbarayan's younger sister. However, the Subbarayan couple escaped before Velmurugan reached.

Jaya was found stranded at the Mudhunagar market in Cuddalore town by locals last week. With the child unable to speak coherently, she was entrusted with the police, who asked the complainant to bring up Jaya until the parents could be traced.

With the local press carrying Jaya's photograph, Velmurugan tracked the child with the police, and through them, to the foster family of few days.

While Velmurugan has taken the child back, the police are on the lookout for the kidnappers.

According to police investigations, Jaya had been sold to another couple, Durai and Nagammal, at Kamabalimedu village, for Rs 500. They told the police that they had only three male children and thought of bringing up Jaya as their own.

Nagammal admitted to branding her with an iron rod. They claimed that they wanted to send Jaya to school, but the girl was adamant. Nagammal claimed that the child was branded only to put the fear of god into her and help her learn the three Rs.

The police do not rule out the possibility of the child being trained as a domestic help.

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