Twitter
Advertisement

Baby Afreen dies, cries for punishing father turns hoarse

Afreen had convulsions at 10.00am and later suffered a cardiac arrest, Dr Somegowda, Resident Medical Superintendent of Vani Vilas Hospital, said.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Three-month-old Afreen, battling for life after being battered by her father who wanted a baby boy, died of cardiac arrest today sparking an outrage over the brutality she was subjected to.

Doctors at Vani Vilas Hospital, where she was admitted in an intensive care unit on Sunday, said she breathed her last this morning after suffering cardiac arrest due to convulsions and bleeding. She was on life-support systems and in a semi-comatose state.

Resident Medical Superintendent Somegowda told PTI that the baby earlier had hurried respiration of 30-40 per minute against the normal 20-25 per minute and also Pathycardia (increased heart rate).

Police said a case of murder would be filed against Afreen's father Umar Farooq after recording his wife Reshma Bano's statement.

Farooq has already been arrested and is in judicial custody till April 21.

Farooq had confessed to having attempted to kill his daughter as he did not want a baby girl. Afreen suffered severe head injuries and bite marks on her thighs and buttocks.

Reshma was inconsolable as heart-rending scenes were witnessed outside the hospital. Amid public outrage over the "inhuman behaviour" of Farooq, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Neena P Nayak said he should be severely punished.

Nayak also urged the state government and civil society to provide protection and solace to Reshma.

"This is an exceptional case where father himself has allegedly killed the child. Farooq should be severely punished and mother Reshma given protection. I think the civil society and the state government would come forward and extend support to Reshma," she said.

The KSCPCR would investigate the case and get deep into it to know the truth, Nayak said. "We would consider legal implications and take next course of action," she added.

Karnataka State Human Rights Commission Chairman SR Naik said he would recommend to Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda to extend help to Reshma.

Naik said SHRC was concerned about this ghastly incident and Reshma should be protected and given support to lead a dignified life.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said that the baby's death is being taken up "very seriously" by his government.

"We have taken up the matter very seriously...The in and out of the matter will be disclosed after getting the full detail of investigation," Gowda told PTI in New Delhi when asked about the death of Afreen in a Bangalore hospital.

The chief minister said cases have been registered against the baby's father Umar Farooq, who allegedly tortured her as he wanted a boy.

"He is already produced before the court and he has been remanded to judicial custody," Gowda said and added that the state's Women and Child Development Welfare Commissioner is also investigating the "the background" of the incident.

Farooq was arrested on April 8 on a complaint by Afreen's mother Reshma.

Afreen was admitted to the paediatric intensive care in the hospital on April 7. She had cigarette burns on her head and a dislocated neck.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement