Body of newborn girl found near hospital
The body of a newborn girl was found in the courtyard of a hospital in Djikot area on Tuesday.
Police arrested three suspects, including a doctor and his son, and registered a case against seven persons, including a woman, after it was revealed that the baby had been strangled to death.
It was stated in the case filed by Constable Muhammad Asad Jamshed, posted at Djikot police station, that Dr Ilyas had set up his hospital in Chak No 263RB.
A report was received from the hospital that a doctor had allegedly killed a newborn girl by strangling her and then buried her after digging a pit in the courtyard of the medical facility, the police official stated.
Upon receiving the information, a heavy contingent of police reached the spot, cordoned off the hospital premises and arrested Dr Ilyas, his son and two dispensers identified as Asad Ilyas and Owais.
Police also took the body of the newborn girl from the hospital’s premises.
A case was registered against five suspects including Rukhsana Bibi and Yasir Ali under sections 302, 201, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code.
Police said search for the remaining suspects had been started.
The arrested Dr Ilyas claimed that a woman had left her baby after giving birth to her. He confessed that the hospital team had handed over the baby to a childless couple. He further claimed that Yasir Ali and his wife were asking for a baby boy.
Since the child was abandoned, she died of cold he was burying her after digging a pit, he claimed.
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Police’s search for the deceased girl's family also continued.
Dijkot SHO Omar Sarfraz Warraich said that Rescue 15 had received a report that Dr Ilyas had killed and buried a newborn baby in the courtyard of Bashir Hospital.
Police were investigating the case after taking away the body from the hospital.
Apparently, a woman left the baby with the doctor after giving birth to her. The doctor reportedly handed over the baby to the childless man Yasir but later the couple demanded a boy. Meanwhile, the girl died due to hunger and cold after she was abandoned.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2021.