By Aditi
A shocking incident was reported from Ashok Nagar district in Madhya Pradesh: a newborn baby girl was throttled to death inside the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU). The post-mortem report has confirmed homicide, and police are investigating the possible involvement of family members in the incident. The baby was born to a couple from Sakarra Village on Friday around 11 pm, and later she was shifted to the SNCU for medical monitoring and care.
The baby was taken to the doctor after her mother noticed marks around her neck and blood coming out of her mouth. The doctors declared her dead around 3 p.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday, less than 16 hours after her birth.
Post-mortem reports indicated that the baby had been strangled, which caused death. Following the post-mortem findings, the case was registered, and an investigation began into the circumstances around the infant's death.
According to hospital records, only the baby’s paternal grandmother, Rajanbai, and the baby’s mother, Bhavna, were allowed to visit the baby in the SNCU. The grandmother took the newborn with her to feed her.
Apart from the mother and grandmother, no other family members were permitted to enter the SNCU ward.
Dr. B. L. Tagore
The infant’s mother and grandmother were present at the hospital at the time of death, while the baby’s father was absent. Police are questioning the mother and grandmother as they were reportedly the only family members permitted to enter the SNCU.
The police are investigating the possible involvement of family members as the baby was the couple’s second daughter and the third girl child in the extended family. Police are also investigating whether the baby’s gender and her being the third girl in the extended family could have been a possible motive, but the reason for her death has not yet been established.
The investigation also involves the examination of CCTV footage from different parts of the hospital, as the SNCU ward had no cameras. Police are examining footage from corridors and other parts of the hospital to establish who entered or left the area.
An investigation had been launched following the report of the incident. We are also analyzing CCTV footage to identify those involved in the murder.
Ravi Pratap Singh, SHO, Kotwali Police Station
(Rh/AM)
