Noida | A private hospital in Gautam Buddh Nagar district was sealed on Tuesday after its owner and two staff members were allegedly found involved in the sale of a five-day-old girl, police and health officials said.
A police team arrested the hospital owner, a sanitation worker and an operation theatre technician, while a nurse and her husband are absconding, they said.
Following the arrests, the chief medical officer (CMO) constituted a three-member inquiry committee.
The licence of the private hospital, Navjeevan, located under Bisrakh police station limits, was cancelled and the facility was sealed, a senior district health officer said, adding that further investigation by the health department is underway.
Police said an FIR was registered on Saturday under sections 143(2) and 143(4) (human trafficking) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act at Bisrakh police station.
According to police, the action came based on a tip-off that an employee of the hospital had demanded Rs 2.6 lakh from a person on the pretext of facilitating the adoption of a newborn girl.
Acting on the input, teams from the anti-human trafficking unit and Bisrakh police carried out a joint operation. "During the operation, contact was established with the complainant and the child was safely recovered. As per the directions of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), the baby has been sent to Sai Kripa Shelter Home," police said.
The arrestees have been identified as hospital owner Yashika Garg (33), sanitation worker Gajendra Singh (35) and operation theatre technician Ranjit Singh (24).
Police said efforts are underway to trace the absconding accused, while further investigation is in progress.
Hamirpur (HP) | In a disturbing incident, the parents of a newborn allegedly abandoned their child at Dr Radhakrishnan Medical College and Hospital here, officials said on Tuesday.
Shortly after the birth on Monday, the parents allegedly left the crying infant inside the hospital and left the premises. Reports suggest the couple also attempted to sell the baby, they said.
According to witnesses, a man of Nepal origin arrived at the medical college with his purported wife for her delivery. On Monday, the woman gave birth to a baby; however, shortly after the delivery, both parents appeared visibly uncomfortable and indifferent toward the child.
Witnesses at the hospital said the couple attempted to sell the newborn for around Rs 10,000-15,000, but none paid heed to their unethical proposal.
Subsequently, suspecting that their actions might be exposed, they abruptly fled the hospital, leaving the newborn crying inside.
When doctors in the pediatrics department became aware of the situation, they alerted the college administration. Given the severity of the matter, the child helpline was also notified to ensure the newborn's care and safety.
Meanwhile, the hospital administration has begun scrutinising CCTV footage installed within the premises to identify the couple.
Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Des Raj Sharma said, "We have received information regarding a couple of Nepali origin abandoning their newborn at the hospital."
The Child Helpline has been informed, and further action is being initiated in accordance with established protocols. Additionally, the police have been apprised of this matter so that the accused can be located and strict legal action can be taken against them, he added.