A distressing incident has occurred at Hardoi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, where a 7-day-old newborn was reported stolen in the early hours of Thursday. The incident has sparked widespread concern and prompted a swift response from local authorities.
According to reports, the infant, born on June 19th to Shivakant Dixit's wife, was taken from the maternity ward of the medical college sometime between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM. Shivakant Dixit, a resident of Bilheri village, stated that his wife was admitted to the hospital due to labor pains, and she gave birth via operation. Both mother and child were being cared for at the medical facility. The family reported that an unknown woman allegedly took the child while they were asleep.
Upon discovering the baby was missing, the family immediately alerted the hospital staff, who initiated a search of the premises. When the search proved unsuccessful, the police were notified. Law enforcement officers arrived promptly and have launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Circle Officer (City) Ankit Mishra, has addressed the media, stating that the police are taking the incident with utmost seriousness. Several teams have been formed to investigate all possible leads and to locate the missing child as quickly as possible. Authorities are meticulously reviewing CCTV footage from within the hospital premises in an attempt to identify the perpetrator and determine the sequence of events. Hospital security personnel and staff are also being questioned as part of the investigation.
Initial reviews of CCTV footage revealed a woman wearing a mask, carrying a baby. Police are working to identify the woman and apprehend her.
The theft has sent shockwaves through the Hardoi Medical College and raised serious questions about the security protocols in place. Concerns are being raised regarding the functionality of CCTV cameras, with reports indicating that several cameras were not working at the time of the incident. This has further complicated the investigation and increased the anxiety of the family and the community.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the Hardoi Medical College, as it was recently in the news due to a power outage. The hospital falls within the home district of Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brijesh Pathak, and the opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, have seized on the incident to criticize the government and question the state of healthcare infrastructure in the region.
The police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by Shivakant Dixit and are actively pursuing all angles to ensure the safe return of the newborn. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have assured the public that no stone will be left unturned in their efforts to bring the culprit to justice and reunite the child with its family.
