An Adivasi woman from Chaliyar was arrested on Tuesday for killing and burying her newborn. Police said Pottanpara Sharada, 35, from Muthuvan Colony at Valamthodu, Nayadampoyil, in Chaliyar panchayat, near Nilambur, had strangulated her 14-day-old baby girl and buried it near her house.
Sharada, a widow, had given birth to the child at the Community Health Centre (CHC), Mukkam. Police said she disposed of the child on Sunday night reportedly out of shame.
She was admitted to Government Medical College Hospital after the newborn was found to have been underweight.
After discharging from the Medical College, she reached home on Sunday evening.
She had reportedly carried the baby in a bag to avoid detection by the people. Neighbours who heard the cry of the baby from Sharada’s house could not find the baby on Monday.
Police began an investigation after they got a complaint about the missing baby. On questioning, the Adivasi woman admitted the crime.
The baby’s body was exhumed on Tuesday and sent to Government Medical College, Manjeri, for post-mortem examination.
