Bihar destitute woman is missing

Several voluntary groups in India and abroad have come forward to support a destitute woman in Bihar who sold her four month old son for Rs.62 to a Nepalese couple. But she is now missing.

Shannu Khatun, in her mid-30s, made the “sale” at the Forbesganj railway station, near the India-Nepal border in Araria district, about 350 km from here. The story has triggered a storm in Bihar.

Araria Superintendent of Police Shivdeep W. Lande said several organisations from Canada, Australia and India have contacted him and also offered to adopt her other three children.

“Thanks to the media, I have got dozens of calls from these organisations to help and support her,” he said. He did not name the groups.

But Khatun and her children have gone missing since the story hit the newspapers. Lande said police were looking for them.