Two children sold by dad for Rs 50,000 rescued in Sivaganga

A group of youngsters had noticed the two children, both boys, grazing goats. The youngsters then enquired the duo, as they were new to the village. After finding the boys were aged 5 and 7, the youngsters passed on the information to Sivaganga Collector G Latha through Whatsapp. 

Following this, the Collector directed the District Child Protection Officer Jeyaprakash to immediately rush to the spot. Accordingly, Jeyaprakash, along with officials from ChildLine, a NGO for child protection, rushed to the village and rescued the boys on Tuesday night. The two boys identified themselves as Eswaran (5) and Thangapandi (7), from Ammanichathiram village near Pattukkottai in Thanjavur district. They had lost their mother recently, following which their father, Rajendran, had sold them for Rs 50,000 to Ananda Kumar (25), from Vilakulam. Kumar had used the boys for grazing the goats. 

Ilayangudi police have booked Rajendran, Kumar and his father Angusamy under the Bonded Labour System (Abolishment) Act. While Angusamy has been arrested, Rajendran and Kumar are absconding. Police are in search of them. 

In his confession to the cops, Angusamy said he had agreed to pay Rs 50,000 for the children. An initial amount of Rs 10,000 was given to Rajendran with the remaining money to be paid at a later date, Angusamy said.