Balasore: A newborn boy was allegedly stolen from the district headquarters hospital in Odisha’s Balasore town on Thursday, only to be rescued hours later by police from Durgadevi village early the next morning. The accused woman has been detained for questioning in connection with the abduction.
The eight-day-old son of Susanta Barik from the Baliapal area was reportedly taken from the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the state-run hospital around noon while undergoing treatment for jaundice. Distraught parents staged a sit-in protest at the hospital, demanding the safe return of their child, prompting the Chief Medical and District Officer (CMDO) to assure them in writing that the infant would be returned by 8 am on Friday.
Local police swung into action, examining footage from nearby CCTV cameras and conducting raids to locate the missing infant. Their efforts paid off when the child was traced to Durgadevi village and safely brought back to the hospital around 4 am.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the vulnerability of hospital security and raising concerns about the safety of newborns in healthcare facilities. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure justice for the affected family and prevent similar incidents in the future.
While the timely intervention of the police led to the swift recovery of the abducted infant, questions remain about the lapses in security measures at the hospital. Residents are calling for stricter protocols to safeguard newborns and enhance surveillance within medical facilities to prevent such incidents from recurring.
