Newborn girl rescued near house of 70-year-old accused in minor rape case in Jajpur

A newborn baby girl was rescued near the residence of a 70-year-old man accused of a minor’s rape and an alleged abortion case in Odisha’s Jajpur district late Monday night, police said.

The infant was found near the house of the accused in Byasanagar area. Local residents noticed the baby lying on the road in the dark and immediately alerted police. With the assistance of locals, the child was rescued and rushed to Jajpur Road Medical Hospital for treatment.

Accused Already Under Arrest

The development comes amid serious allegations against the elderly man, who was arrested on Monday following rape charges levelled by a minor girl.

Two days prior to his arrest, allegations had also surfaced that the minor had undergone an abortion. In connection with the abortion claim, police have additionally arrested the Managing Director of a private hospital.

Authorities are now investigating whether there is any link between the rescued newborn and the ongoing case.

Infant Stable, Say Doctors

Doctors at Jajpur Road Medical said the newborn, believed to have been born within the past week, was in a critical state when brought to the hospital.

Paediatrician Dr. Gautam Sahoo said the baby was suffering from severe hypothermia at the time of admission.

“The newborn was severely hypothermic when she was brought to the hospital. We administered primary medical care and checked her blood sugar levels. The child is now stable and being fed,” he said.

He added that no signs of infection have been detected so far. “We will conduct further tests to ascertain more details. The newborn appears to be premature, likely born between 34 and 36 weeks,” Dr. Sahoo stated.

Locals Describe Rescue

A local resident, Sanjukta Sahoo, who helped rescue the baby, recounted the incident.

“It was dark, and there was no one around. We saw dogs surrounding the child. Initially, we thought it was a kitten, but later realised it was a human baby. My son asked me to pick the infant up, and I held her as she was lying on the road and crying,” she said.

Investigation Continues

Police have launched a detailed investigation to establish the identity and parentage of the newborn and to determine whether the accused has any connection to the child.

Also Read: 2 arrested for attempted rape on minor girl in Odisha’s Kandhamal

The discovery of the infant near the accused’s residence has further intensified scrutiny around the already sensitive case. Authorities said further action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing probe.