The Hindu : Probe into `baby swapping'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 29, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Probe into `baby swapping'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 28. The senior health officials of Uttar Pradesh have asked the Chief Medical Officer of the City hospital in Noida to submit an inquiry report in connection with the alleged swapping of a baby boy with a girl on January 26. Meanwhile, the police have registered a case and have decided to go for a DNA test to decide parentage of the infant.

According to reports reaching here, the Director General (Health Services), U.P., has asked the CMO to conduct an inquiry and submit the report as soon as possible. The report was likely to be submitted by late today evening.

The incident had come to light on January 26 evening when Pokhar Lal, a resident of New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi, alleged that his daughter was handed over a girl infant after being told that she had delivered a baby boy. Following the allegations, a case under Sections 363 (punishment for kidnapping) and 417 (punishment for cheating) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Sector-20 Noida police station.

As per allegations, Bina was admitted to the government hospital on January 26 around 1 p.m. Around 6-45 p.m., she gave birth to a child. The certificate handed over to the family said Bina had given birth to a baby boy. It was also alleged that the hospital employees demanded money for buying sweets on the happy occasion. However, around 9 p.m. when the family members insisted that the child be handed over to them, they were given a girl child.

The complaint said when the family members objected citing the certificate, they were told that there was a mistake and that Bina had indeed given birth to a girl child.

The family then decided to lodge a complaint with the police. The hospital authorities have so far ruled out any foul play and maintained that there may have been some inadvertent mistake. It was reported that, on January 26, the hospital handled 11 birth cases. While eight of them were boys, the other three were girls. Bina's name was not in the list of women who had given birth to girl child. However, there was some discrepancy in the records of Savita, one of the women who gave birth to the child. Her name and address were allegedly entered differently in different lists.

Meanwhile, proceedings for the DNA test of the girl child handed over to Bina has been initiated. Further investigations in the case are on.

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