Who dumped these newborns in bins?

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For Bengaluru that is yet to come to terms with the death of baby Afreen at the hands of her father, here is another shocker: In 2011, Victoria Hospital reportedly conducted autopsies on 33 infants, including those born prematurely, which were found dumped in public places like dustbins and roadsides. Of these 14 were female and 15 were male children.

“The sexuality of the rest four could not be identified because the bodies were mauled,” said a doctor from Victoria Hospital. “Some of the infants were prematurely born with the placenta and umbilical cord intact and dumped,” he added.

Records with the Victoria Hospital police station reveal that another infant — an unnamed, abandoned newborn baby girl had died on March 20 — after she was abandoned, reportedly by her mother, in front of Janata Bazaar near Victoria Hospital.

“The baby was wrapped in cloth. She was found dead by a passersby, who alerted the beat constables. A case was registered under Sec. 318 of IPC (concealment of birth by secret disposal of body) and handed over the body to the hospital mortuary,” said a police officer.

So far this year, the police station has registered three cases of infants, including one boy, being dumped.

‘Farooq needs severe punishment’

To Umar Farooq a wife was a means of entertainment, says Reshma Banu, who lost her two-month-old baby, Neha Afreen, as a result of his cruelty.

He derived sadistic pleasure in tellling her about his relationship with his previous wife, Nusrat and often said it was his birth right to use his wives as per his whims and fancies, she reveals.

“My husband strongly believed in black magic and was supported by his father, Abdul Abubakar, mother, Gulzar Begum and his sister, Shabana Begum. I was actually carrying twins, but because of the torture he put me through, I lost one baby in my womb and now I have lost even the other. I don’t see any reason for me to go on living now,” she sobs, recalling with disgust that Farooq had advised her to abandon the baby in hospital if she happened to give birth to a girl.

And on January 1, when Afreen was born, Farooq arrived with his mother in hospital, and between curses told her to leave her behind.

It was only on her pleading that they agreed to take her home, she says, adding in a pain- filled voice, “Farooq needs the worst of punishment for what he has done to my daughter.”