In a tragic incident in Chikkamagaluru, the body of a newborn boy was discovered abandoned in a deserted area near the Government Bus Depot on KM Road on Monday evening. Locals noticed a suspicious white plastic bag lying amid the bushes. Sensing something amiss, they examined it using a stick and found a newborn wrapped in cloth inside. They immediately alerted the emergency police helpline (112). City police rushed to the spot and confirmed that the infant was already dead. Authorities also noted that a medical clip, typically used in hospitals, was still attached to the baby’s umbilical cord.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Chikkamagaluru Town police registered a case and shifted the body to the government hospital for postmortem. Investigators began tracing records from nearby hospitals using the umbilical clip as a lead to identify those responsible. Police later told TOI that their focused investigation led them to the child’s parents, uncovering a complex and distressing backstory. The mother, identified as Ambika (name changed), is a widow whose husband died three years ago. According to police, she became pregnant following an extramarital relationship with her late husband’s elder brother.
Details of the Case
Police said the woman had attempted to terminate the pregnancy at five months, but doctors declined as the procedure was neither medically nor legally permissible at that stage. Hospital records from June 13 later revealed that the baby died in the womb during the ninth month of pregnancy. The woman was admitted to the Government Maternity Hospital in Chikkamagaluru, where doctors conducted a procedure to deliver the stillborn child and handed over the body to the family.
According to police, after receiving the body, the male accomplice panicked, fearing that his wife would learn about the pregnancy and the affair. Instead of performing last rites, he allegedly placed the stillborn baby in a plastic bag and abandoned it in the bushes near the bus depot. Police have registered cases against the accused under Section 91 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abandonment of a child, along with Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act.
Legal Implications and Public Reaction
The case has sparked outrage and sorrow in the local community, highlighting issues of extramarital relationships, social stigma, and the illegal abandonment of newborns. The accused face serious charges under Indian law, which could lead to imprisonment. Authorities are continuing their investigation to ensure justice is served.
