In a deeply unsettling incident from Balasore, Odisha, a father has been accused of selling his two-and-a-half-year-old son for one lakh rupees (about $1,200). The case emerged when a video went viral on social media, showing the father bargaining with a potential buyer. Following the video's circulation, a local social activist filed a complaint at the Nilgiri police station, prompting immediate action from law enforcement. The police have managed to recover the child safely from the Chimini Bhati area and have placed him in the care of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pramod Kumar Malik reported that the investigation is ongoing with two individuals currently in custody for questioning. This shocking event highlights severe social issues such as child trafficking and domestic instability, notably accentuated by the father's reportedly tumultuous marital situation, including two marriages and the separation from his second wife. The plight of the child and the circumstances leading to this crime sheds light on broader societal challenges regarding child welfare and family dynamics in the region.

Furthermore, this incident coincides with increasing concerns about child safety and human trafficking in India. It raises significant alarm among local communities and authorities, leading to calls for stricter regulations and measures to protect vulnerable children from similar fates. As the investigation unfolds, it remains crucial for society to address the underlying factors contributing to such grave offenses against children, ensuring that such deplorable acts are not repeated in the future.