UP: Newborn found buried alive in pit, rescued

In an act of horror, a newborn boy was found buried alive in a pit in Saidanpur village of Barabanki, 40 km from the state capital. Though the infant managed to survive, his legs and genitals were attacked by eagles and dogs. The child is currently undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Lucknow, where his condition was stated to be critical but stable.

The naked infant was discovered by a woman who had gone out to defecate in the open, on Sunday morning. The pit had been covered with mud but the infant’s legs were peeping out. On hearing his cries, the woman rushed to his rescue and saw birds feeding on his legs.

Consultant paediatrician at Dufferin Hospital Dr Salman Khan said, “Due to the attack by birds, the child has contracted infection in the lower parts of his body. He has been operated upon and given medicines. Though he is taking regular feeds, we will keep him under observation for 4-5 days till the infection starts subsiding. At present, his condition is critical but stable.”

The Barabanki police have handed over the infant to Childline, Barabanki. Talking about the infant’s condition, director of the NGO Nahid Aqueel said, “The baby has suffered severe injuries in his legs and private parts. Doctors are making all efforts to treat him. The baby was born normal and doesn’t suffer from any deformities.”

“Most likely, the child was born late on Saturday night or in the wee hours of Sunday. He was either buried by his kin because he was an unwanted child or due to some enmity. So far we only know that the baby was delivered at a hospital as there is a bandage on his umbilical cord,” said Nahid.

Even though Childline deals with cases of missing and runaway children daily, the sheer cruelty in this case has sent a chill down the spine of its volunteers.

“On earlier occasions, we have seen newborn children being abandoned in fields or in dustbins and drains. But burying a child alive and leaving him to be fed upon by animals is the height of cruelty,” said Nahid.

Nahid further said, “The police have registered an FIR. We will also talk to health workers in the village and adjoining areas to find out about the pregnant women who delivered babies on Saturday. This could lead us to the child’s family and the reason behind such inhumane treatment.”