Abandoned baby's father, 3 others held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 19, 2012:
In connection with abandonment of a new born baby who was born with congenital deformities, three persons including the father and grandmother of the baby have been arrested by the police.
A baby who was born with deformed lips and six foot-fingers each was abandoned near Isoishemba hills in the afternoon of February 17. Speaking to media persons this afternoon, Officer in-Charge of Lamphel police station N Ingocha said that a case was registered after receiving a complaint from Child Welfare Officer N Binobala with regard to the abandonment of the new born baby.
The baby was delivered at 5 pm of February 17 by her mother Anita.
Her father is one Maibam Rojit of Malom Tuliyaima Mayai Leikai.
The baby abandoned near Iroishemba hills was found by child welfare activists of Social Welfare Department at about 2 pm of the same day and she was brought to JNIMS.
But the kid expired at around 8.45 pm.
With OC Ingocha as supervisor, three police teams were formed and they conducted a special investigation at RIMS, Shija and Subha hospitals on February 18. On observing that a mother who had delivered a baby was lying without any baby in the Gynae Ward of RIMS, police enquired the mother.
Family members of the mother maintained that the baby was being treated in ICU of Shija hospital.
After contacting Shija hospital authority, it was established that no baby was being treated in the ICU there.
On further questioning about the missing baby, they changed their version saying that the she was taken outside the State for treatment.
This aroused more suspicion.
Ultimately, the baby's father Rojit, grandmother Rani and the mother's elder sister Sakila Shahani of Kairang Awang Leikai were summoned to police station for a thorough questioning.
In the process, they disclosed that the baby was taken to Iroishemba hills where she was abandoned because of her congenital deformities.
Subsequently, all three of them have been arrested and and the van has been impounded.
They have been remanded to police custody till February 25. Saying that post mortem examination of the deceased baby would be conducted tomorrow, OC Ingocha informed that the mother would also be interrogated as and when her health improves.
He also appealed to hospital authorities to take extra care in the event of delivering babies with disabilities.
A baby boy who was abandoned by his parents at Lamphel in November last year was rescued and put at Shishu Graha, established under Social Welfare Department.
The boy has been named Sanatomba.
Though his parents could not be identified till date, it is being considered to solemnise his Chakumba in a decent manner, added Ingocha.