Body of newborn girl found in Jodhpur hospital dump

 Body of a newborn girl, surrounded by dogs who were trying to feast on it, was on Saturday found in a garbage dump behind the Umaid Hospital in Jodhpur. Police found the body inside the garbage pile after by-passers, who also claimed to have spotted two bodies of infants, informed them. Police have, however, denied the two infants theory and claimed that there was only one infant and that was a girl.

"We received information at about 9.30 am that there was a dead infant lying on a heap of garbage," said Investigating Officer (IO) Pabba Ram,

The body of the newborn girl was surrounded by dogs who were trying to feast on it in a garbage dump behind the Umaid Hospital.

"We rushed to the spot and found the people surrounding a dead infant girl behind the Umaid Hospital," said the officer.

According to the officer, the police have registered a case and handed over the body to Hindu Sewa Mandal for her cremation after postmortem.

"It is a matter of investigation whether the infant was born in the hospital or somebody else from outside dropped it there," the IO said.

"We will inquire from the hospital to find out if the infant was born there, if yes, the police will also check for the involvement of any staff of the hospital," Ram said.

But he has not ruled out the possibility of the infant being dropped there from some outsider.

"We also have to see if the infant was alive when dropped," the police officer said.

According to eye-witnesses, dogs had already devoured one of these infants whereas the other one was spotted before the canines could harm it, said one of the eye witness.

An eye witness said that they had seen the dogs running with an infant to elsewhere and when they rushed there, they found some blood scattered there.

"I was just passing by when I saw some dogs on the heap of garbage, when I got closer after shoeing away the dogs, I found a dead girl infant and immediately informed the police," he said.

Whatever be the case, but it is a major setback to the efforts of the government and various social organisations who have been invariably been emphasizing the acceptance of the girl child.

In 2009, a new-born child had died after being bitten by a rat in the natal ward of the same hospital. This led to the suspension of two doctors and a nurse.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan had on May 9 met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over the issue of female foeticide. The issue was raised in the first episode of his television show 'Satyamev Jayate'.

 Source: India Times

Baby Afreen dies from cardiac arrest

Afreen's mother grieving at Vani Vilas Hospital in Bangalore on Wednesday. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar

Bangalore, April 11, 2012

Three-month-old Neha Afreen who had been battling for life since Friday after being allegedly battered by her father, died of cardiac arrest here on Wednesday.

Doctors at the Vani Vilas Hospital said that around 10.40 a.m. she suffered a cardiac arrest and died 30 minutes later.

Reshma Bano, the child's mother, vented her ire at Umar Farook, her husband, who is alleged to have assaulted the child.

“My baby was innocent, and he killed her. He's a devil and should get the strictest punishment.”

Ms. Reshma, her mother Maqbool Bi, father Abdul Karim Khan and their shocked family members were then taken to the mortuary at Victoria Hospital nearby where they struggled for privacy among the scores of TV cameras and journalists, as well as local political leaders who came to the hospital.

The child was targeted by Farook because he wanted a “boy and not a girl,” said Ms. Reshma.

When the child was admitted to the hospital, doctors said she had suffered haemorrhages in her brain and retina, and had multiple bite marks on her thighs and buttocks. Though already on ventilator support, Afreen went into a semi-comatose state on Tuesday.

R. Premalatha, Professor of Paediatrics, told The Hindu that the baby's condition deteriorated since Tuesday night after she suffered repeated convulsions, twice on Tuesday and once on Wednesday morning.

After the post-mortem the body was taken to the residence of Ms. Reshma's parents at D.J. Halli for the last rites.

Meanwhile, the K.G. Halli police converted the charges against Farook from “attempt to murder” to “murder”.

During interrogation, Farook had confessed to the crime and multiple attacks on the child in the past three months, the police said. He had been remanded in judicial custody till April 21.

Karnataka State Human Rights Commission chairman S.R. Nayak said the commission had registered a suo motu complaint on the attack and directed the police to submit a report in two months. 

Source: The Hindu