Infant's Tragic Death in Bareilly Highlights Desperate Poverty
In a heart-wrenching incident in Bareilly, a one-month-old girl has died under circumstances that point to severe deprivation and illness. The tragedy unfolded after her parents, rendered jobless and destitute, were compelled to leave their three young children unattended at home while they went out to beg for alms.
Family's Descent into Destitution
The infant's father, Mohd Shadab, along with his wife Hina and their children, had been residing in a rented house in the Qila Cantonment area for the past four months. According to local residents, Shadab was previously engaged in the manjha (kite string) trade but lost his livelihood during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite receiving some temporary assistance from community members, he could not secure stable employment, ultimately forcing the couple into begging to sustain their family.
Fatal Day of Neglect
On Friday morning, around 11 am, Shadab and Hina left their three children—a one-month-old daughter, a one-and-a-half-year-old, and a four-year-old—alone at home as they ventured out to seek alms. Upon returning at approximately 6 pm, they discovered their infant daughter unresponsive. The family initially began preparations for burial, but police were alerted around 10 pm by concerned locals.
Police Investigation and Autopsy Findings
Subash Kumar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Qila, reported that a police team promptly arrived, took custody of the body, and sent it for a postmortem examination. The autopsy report cited illness and infection as the official cause of death. However, many residents in the area have contested this, alleging that the infant succumbed to starvation due to the family's extreme poverty. After the postmortem, the body was handed back to the family for last rites.
Family's Disappearance and Past Tragedies
In a follow-up on Sunday, attempts to locate Shadab proved futile. He had vacated his rented accommodation after failing to pay rent, and neighbors were unaware of his current whereabouts. Disturbingly, this is not the first such loss for the couple. A local resident revealed that they had previously lost another child, aged six months, under similarly distressing conditions, underscoring a pattern of hardship and tragedy.
This incident sheds light on the severe socio-economic challenges faced by many families in the region, exacerbated by unemployment and lack of social safety nets.
