Newborn Stolen From Balasore Hospital Rescued; Woman Detained

Balasore: An eight-day-old baby boy allegedly taken away from the Special Neonatal Care Unit (SNCU) of District Headquarters Hospital in Balasore on Thursday afternoon was rescued by police from the possession of a woman.

The newborn baby was located in the hands of a woman of Durgadevi village. A team of hospital staff and Balasore Police rescued the newborn from the woman after an overnight search.

According to police sources, Sushant Barik and his wife Tikili Rani of Athabatia in Baliapal had admitted their eight-day-old baby boy to the SNCU of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the hospital on April 2 for jaundice treatment.

While Sushant went out of the hospital premises to buy something, and his wife was asleep, the accused woman is alleged to have taken away the baby from the SNCU.

Despite frantic search, the couple could not find their child anywhere. They registered a complaint regarding their missing newborn at the police outpost police at the hospital.

The couple also staged a dharana outside the office Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) seeking measures for rescue of their missing son. They called off their protest, when the CDMO gave a written assurance to rescue the child and hand him over to the couple by Friday.

After rescue, the newborn is undergoing treatment at the SNCU ward of the hospital.

On the other hand, police detained started interrogating her to ascertain the reason behind stealing the newborn.