Caught on camera: Kerala couple abandons 2-day-old baby at Kochi church, arrested

The couple committed the crime out of fear that thry would be shamed socially for siring a fourth child.

A 32-year-old man was arrested for abandoning his newborn baby at a church in Kerala's Kochi city. Photo: ANI

KOCHI: A 32-year-old man was arrested for abandoning his newborn baby at a church in Kerala's Kochi city. The two-day-old infant was left in in the premises of St George Forane Church in Edappally of Friday evening by Bitto and his wife Prabitha (28) for fear of a social stigma. The police have traced the couple, having four kids including the abandoned infant, from Wadakkancherry. The cops after questioning the two said they committed the offence out of fear that they would be shamed socially for siring a fourth child. The woman delivered the baby at Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur. After getting discharged from the hospital, she also joined her husband in committing the crime. A CCTV footage of their act went viral on the social media and was aired by television channels, which led to their arrest. The clip showed a couple leaving the child in the premises of the church. Watch The Video Below (Courtesy: V6 News, YouTube) In the footage, the couple along with another child was seen walking into the church around 8.15 pm with the baby wrapped in an orange sheet. The father kissed the baby on its forehead before carefully placing the infant on the ground of the church. The security staff of the church noticed the child at around 8.30 pm and immediately alerted the police. The baby was admitted to a private hospital immediately after the incident. Hospital sources said the infant was healthy. During preliminary probe, Bitto told the investigation team that the offence was committed out of fear that they would be shamed socially for siring a fourth child, police said. They were allegedly laughed at by friends and locals for Prabitha being continuously pregnant. Police, however, said a detailed investigation was required to reach a final conclusion in the case. The two have been charged under IPC Section 317(exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years, by parent or person having care of it) and Juvenile Justice Act, Section 75 (punishment for cruelty to child), police said. (With inputs from PTI)