The controversy regarding discrimination against the girl child in Maharashtra refuses to die down. A newborn baby girl was found abandoned at a garbage dump in Manmad on Sunday, but was rescued by a passerby before she could fall prey to hazards like stray dogs, rodents and rough weather.
According to the police, the baby was found near the Manmad railway station on Sunday morning. A local Kishore Salve was on his way home from work when he heard sounds of a baby crying from the direction of a garbage dump just outside the station premises. He found the baby abandoned atop the dump and took her home.
His wife bathed the baby while he called the Nashik rural police control room following which a team of the Manmad police officers and doctors from the government hospital in Manmad reached his residence. She was taken to the hospital for a medical check-up, while the police recorded Mr Salve’s statement.
“We suspect that the baby was left to die at the garbage dump. We have registered a complaint against unknown persons under Section 317 of the IPC,” said a police officer.
The police is now looking for any eyewitnesses who might have seen someone abandon the baby. The baby was later shifted to a hospital in Nashik and is said to be out of danger, confirmed the police.
Maharashtra has been in the eye of a storm recently, with several cases of female foeticide and illegal sex determination coming to light.