A couple was arrested in Kerala on Saturday for abandoning his newborn baby in a church in Edappally area of Kochi. They were caught on CCTV camera outside the church and were traced to Wadakancherry in Thrissur.
A couple was arrested in Kerala on Saturday for abandoning his newborn baby in a church in Edappally area of Kochi. They were caught on CCTV camera outside the church and were traced to Wadakancherry in Thrissur.
Police said they will be charged under various sections of IPC and Juvenile Justice Act.
According to reports, the parents abandoned their two-day baby fearing that they would be shamed socially for having a fourth child.
CCTV footage aired by television channels and circulated on social media showed the man leaving the child in the premises of St George Forane Church late evening on Friday.
The security staff of the church noticed the child at around 8.30 pm and immediately alerted the police.
In the CCTV footage, the couple along with another child is seen walking into the church premises around 8.15 pm with the baby wrapped in an orange sheet. The father kisses the baby on its forehead before carefully placing on the ground of the church.
The couple was identified as Bitto (32) and Prabitha (28). They already have three children together.
Report quoting police sources said that the father Bitto told the investigators that Prabitha was ridiculed by the locals for often being pregnant. They were afraid that they would be shamed if they returned home with the fourth child.
Police said a detailed investigation will be carried out to reach a conclusion.
The baby was admitted to a private hospital immediately after the incident. Hospital sources said the infant was healthy.
(With PTI inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "A man leaving his two-day-old baby outside a church in Kochi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}