Ludhiana: A 16-year-old girl gave birth to a baby in a bathroom at the Ludhiana court complex quarters on Saturday morning, following which the newborn died, according to people familiar with the incident.
Neighbour Sandeep Kumar said the girl went to the bathroom at around 10am, after which people nearby heard screams. He said that when he went to check with a torch, the delivery had already taken place.
Sandeep said he immediately called the 108 ambulance service. According to him, the ambulance team took the minor girl to the maternity and child ward of Ludhiana Civil Hospital but allegedly left the newborn behind.
He claimed the baby was wrapped in a cloth and placed on a table inside the room. Sandeep said hospital staff later asked that the newborn be brought to the hospital. The baby was taken there at around 2.45pm, but had died by then.
The incident has raised questions over why the newborn was allegedly not taken to the hospital along with the minor mother when the ambulance arrived at the spot.
Sandeep said the girl belonged to a migrant family and had been living with a young man from Rupnagar. He alleged that the man left after learning about her pregnancy, fearing the expenses associated with treatment and delivery.
Father seeks action against girl’s alleged partner
The girl’s father, Ram Lakhan, a native of Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, reached the hospital and said his daughter was only 16 years old. According to him, she had married a daily-wage worker from Rupnagar around a year and a half ago and had been living separately from the family.
He said he learned about his daughter’s pregnancy only around 10-12 days ago. Describing himself as a daily-wage worker with a disability, he alleged that he had previously approached the police with concerns about his daughter’s association with boys.
The father has urged police to register an FIR against the man he holds responsible for his daughter’s situation.
Police are investigating the matter. The man named by the family is reportedly absconding, while the family has submitted a complaint to the police
