The police on Thursday arrested a woman who sold her newborn child through a broker at a leading government hospital here for a sum of Rs 5,000 and later came back to claim it.

The incident would not have come to light had Dr Lakshmipriya, a house surgeon of the hospital, not noticed a heated argument going on between a woman and a suspected broker near the hospital canteen. She immediately alerted the police who arrested the mother and the broker and secured the child back.

Police said that Ambika Kumari, native of Chadayamangalam in the neighbouring Kollam district had given birth to the infant four weeks ago at the SAT Hospital. According to the mother, it was a part-time sweeper of the hospital who made an offer to keep the child sensing her poor financial condition. "I was given Rs 5,000 for purchasing medicines and she took the child after intimidating me," claimed Ambika.

However, when she returned to her native place, local people and relatives grew suspicious and threatened to inform the police. That was when she decided to claim back her child and approached the sweeper with whom she had the argument.

The medical college police arrived at the scene and arrested the mother for trying to sell her child. Curiously, the police let off the broker and didn't bother to inquire about the buyer saying that the mother had not lodged a complaint.