Woman Faces Charges For Dumping Newborn’s Body In Rivulet In Jammu & Kashmir

Investigation was launched, revealing that Parvaiz Akhtar, the wife of Naheem Ahmed and a resident of Rajouri’s Niaka Panjgrian village, gave birth to the baby at GMC Associate Hospital in the district.

A woman has been charged for allegedly disposing of a newborn’s body in a rivulet in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by the local police. The lifeless infant was discovered in a rivulet close to Nabhan Mohalla in Rajouri, leading to the registration of a case under Section 318 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with the concealment of birth by secret disposal of a dead body.

An investigation was launched, revealing that Parvaiz Akhtar, the wife of Naheem Ahmed and a resident of Rajouri’s Niaka Panjgrian village, gave birth to the baby at GMC Associate Hospital in the district. Shockingly, while returning home from the hospital, the family allegedly discarded the newborn’s body into the nearby rivulet.

The precise cause of the infant’s death is still under investigation, and the police are actively pursuing further leads in this distressing incident.

Jammu And Kashmir's First Cradle Baby Reception Centre

Meanwhile, the first cradle baby reception centre (CBRC) for abandoned newborn children in Jammu and Kashmir has been established in Jammu city, according to IANS. The CBRC, named ‘Palna Greh,’ has been set up in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for abandoned newborns until they are adopted.

According to the report, the centre is located in the government hospital in Gandhi Nagar area of Jammu. With the facility now available, incidents of infanticide are expected to decrease.

Officials stated that the CBRC has been established under Mission Vatsalya, which facilitates the safe abandonment of children by families or biological parents who do not wish to appear before the child welfare committee to relinquish the child while keeping their identity confidential.

Doctors at the hospital mentioned that the centre is situated near the emergency wing without CCTV coverage to ensure the anonymity of the parents and families. Doctors attend to the abandoned child and keep the police informed. People from different walks of life have appreciated the initiative, calling it a welcome step toward society’s responsibility to human life.

In 2021, the National Family Health Survey (2019-21) for Jammu & Kashmir reported 946 females per 1000 males in the 0-6 age group.