A suspected case of infant abandonment at Silchar Civil Hospital prompted a police investigation on Sunday after a woman allegedly left her approximately 11-month-old baby with another visitor and failed to return.
According to reports, the woman approached a visitor who had come to see a patient and requested her to look after the infant for a short time, claiming she was going to the washroom. The visitor agreed on humanitarian grounds. However, when the woman did not return even after a considerable period, the concerned caretaker informed the hospital authorities.
Police personnel subsequently arrived at the hospital, took custody of the child and launched an investigation. Nearly two hours after the incident, the identity of the infant and the whereabouts of the mother or any family members remained unknown.
The Child Helpline was also informed about the incident, although no representative had reached the hospital by the time the report was filed.
Police are investigating the circumstances to establish the identity of the child’s mother and determine whether the infant had been deliberately abandoned or whether other factors led to the child being left behind. The investigation is continuing.
