Taken: Newborn removed from ventilator, kidnapped
Unidentified woman caught on camera, entering the ward, taking the oxygen mask off and walking out of the ward with baby. STOCK IMAGE
A newborn baby was kidnapped from Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Friday. Police said the infant, the son of a man who lives in Dubai, was taken away from the neonatal section.
The three-day-old baby was born in Kohat in a private clinic but was rushed to KTH after his condition deteriorated. He was then hospitalised there. “The boy’s uncle and aunt brought him to the hospital. His aunt left him to go and get medicine. When she returned, the boy was not there,” said an officer of Town police station.
Police registered an FIR and accessed CCTV footage which showed an unidentified woman entering the ward, removing the oxygen mask from the baby’s face and taking him away.
“The female guard is being questioned as of now. She said she had left for prayers at the time of the incident but she had talked to the woman before her entry in the ward,” said the officer. The guard has been arrested.
The official said initial investigation revealed the woman took the boy and hailed a taxi for Jhagra.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2015.