An attempt by a woman to bury her newborn baby was pre-empted by alert villagers in Chintamani taluk in Chickballapur district on Thursday.
The baby was found in a pit by the owner of the land, Mattanna. “I heard the cry of a baby, but I couldn't find the mother. I found the infant in a pit,” Mattanna said. Along with other villagers, he took the baby to the government hospital in nearby Kurabur.
On receiving information about the incident from the hospital, the staff of Child Helpline, Health Department as well as the District Child Protection Unit rushed to the spot and took charge of the infant, Child Helpline Director and Chickballapur District Child Welfare Committee member B.R. Balagangadhar told The Hindu .
The baby was taken from Kurabur hospital in an ambulance by DCPU official Ramesh and admitted to the district hospital at Chickballapur, he added. “The child would have died had the farmer not applied his mind in time,” he said.
The child will be kept under observation in the Intensive Care Unit.
It is suspected that the baby was delivered early in the morning. Authorities concerned with child rights and care have filed a complaint with the police.
Due procedure will be followed to secure the baby into the custody of the department concerned and offer for adoption in case the parents were not traced, the CWC member explained.
“The parents will face punishment under Section 317 of the Indian Penal Code,” said Mr. Balagangadhar.
