Cuttack: A 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped a few months ago, gave birth to a baby at a private hospital in Pratapnagari area of Odisha’s Cuttack district.
The minor, a student of Class X, was rescued along with her newborn after a raid by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) at the hospital, sources said on Friday. She had delivered a few days back and CWC members raided the hospital along with the local police after getting an information.
As per preliminary investigation, the girl from Maniabandha area had been admitted to the private hospital on November 15 after her family noticed unusual physical changes and suspected a pregnancy, which was confirmed after an ultrasound.
The minor disclosed that she had been abducted and raped. As per her claims, she was returning home from school on her bicycle a few months ago when two men intercepted her near a bridge. She was forcibly taken under the bridge, where one of the men raped her. The minor had not disclosed the ordeal to her family at the time as she was under trauma and a state of fear.
On the advice of doctors, the girl was admitted to the same facility on December 14 and she delivered a baby boy.
Acting on a tip-off, the CWC team and Sadar Police raided the hospital and rescued both the minor and the newborn. Due to health complications, the baby was shifted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishu Bhawan) in Cuttack for intensive care.
The survivor’s statement was recorded and she was medically examined at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) before being shifted to Basundhara Open Shelter Home. An attendant has been deputed by Basundhara to look after the infant at Sishu Bhawan.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation in an effort to trace and apprehend the accused.
