New-born girl stolen from government hospital

Thane, Feb 6: A new-born baby girl was allegedly stolen by an unidentified woman from a government hospital in Bhiwandi here, police said today.

According to Senior Police Inspector R D Shinde of Shanti Nagar Police, the incident took place at the IGM hospital in the powerloom town after one Shabana Begum, a resident of Rahanal in Bhiwandi was admitted to the hospital on February 3.

Next morning around 2 AM, she gave birth to a baby girl. Around 10.30 AM on February 4, an unidentified woman, wearing a burqa with her face covered, walked into the female ward and informed the mother that she was summoned by the doctor for discharge.

Unaware of her intentions, the mother walked out of the ward leaving the child behind in the incubator. When she returned, the girl had gone missing, police said quoting the victim's complaint. According to police, since the CCTV cameras of the hospital were not functioning at that time, the woman, who was allegedly loitering in the hospital before the incident, could not be identified.

However, an offence under section 373 of the IPC had been registered against the unidentified woman and a hunt was still on for the child, police said.

PTI