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Child abandoning case in Silchar: Rupantar Foundation thanks Child Rights Commission for immediate intervention
Cachar Police nabs father of the abandoned baby from Dharmanagar
Jan. 26: In a heart rendering incident, a new born baby girl was abandoned by her parents after discerning that she was physically challenged. Pulok Das, an official of Shivasundari NariSikshasram Hospital, Silchar informed that a pregnant lady from Diwanpasha area of Dharmanagar, Tripura was admitted there on 31 December, 2021. The couple entered their name in the hospital register as Sampi Das and Digbijoy Das. A baby girl was born to them on 2 January, 2022. However, due to certain complexities, the doctors advised the couple to stay in the hospital for 1 more week. They were released from NariSikshasram Hospital on 7 January.
However, Sanjoy Das, working as a sweeper at Shivasundari NariSikshasram Hospital was spotted on the same night by some local people to move about suspiciously with a new-born baby. This gave birth to doubt in their minds. On further query, Sanjoy revealed that the parents have abandoned the baby and asked him to dump it in lieu of money. It was then that the police was informed about the incident. Pulok Das also informed that after the baby was rescued, they admitted it at the ICU of Shivasundari NariSikshasram Hospital.
Both the NariSikshasram Hospital authorities and the police tried multiple times to contact the parents of the baby, but the mobile number registered with the hospital was found to be switched off. This news was also published by way2barak on 9 January. Meanwhile, on 10 January, 2022, Rupantar Foundation in an e-mail addressed to the Chairperson of Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), Guwahati informed in details about the incident.
Subir Roy, President, Rupantar Foundation informed way2barak, “On knowing the incident, we immediately wrote to ASCPCR, Guwahati and urged upon them to take appropriate action and direct the Police Super of Cachar to take legal action against the parents and the other perpetrators involved as per relevant sections of the law.”
On receiving the e-mail from Rupantar Foundation, the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights immediately set to action. The very next day, that is, on 11 January, Dr Sunita Changkakati, Chairperson of the State Commission wrote a letter to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Cachar, wherein they were requested to take immediate action to rescue and provide appropriate care and protection to the specially abled-child under the provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2005.
The letter addressed to DC & SP of Cachar further read, “You are also requested to take necessary action to arrest the accused at the earliest. The action taken report shall be communicated to the Commission within 7 days from the date of receipt of this letter.” A copy of the letter was also marked to the President, Rupantar Foundation, Silchar (a national level voluntary organization), who basically informed the Commission about the incident.
Cachar Police too used their sources and located the whereabouts of the parents of the abandoned child. A team was also sent by the district Police to nab the offender from Dharmanagar, Tripura. Finally, Cachar Police achieved success and father of the baby Digbijoy Das was nabbed and brought to Silchar and produced before the judiciary on Tuesday after procedural interrogation. Police sources revealed that the parents seemed to abandon the baby when they found out that it was a specially abled-child and so they tried to kill/ dump the baby in lieu of money with the help of the sweeper Sanjoy Das.
Meanwhile, Subir Roy, President, Rupantar Foundation thanked the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights for taking such immediate action on the matter and also the police department for apprehending the father of the baby who has exhibited the highest level of cruelty.
