Death of woman and newborn baby following childbirth at home: acupuncturist taken into custody

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have taken a man into custody in connection with the incident where a woman named Shameera Beevi and her newborn baby died following childbirth at home in Karakkamandapam. Shihabuddin, who performed acupuncture treatment on Shameera, has been taken into police custody. The Nemom police took Shihabuddin into custody from Ernakulam. Police said that they are currently questioning him.

Shihabuddin runs a treatment centre in Venjarammoodu. Last September, the Special Branch had given a report that he was providing fake treatment under the guise of acupuncture. The Special Branch conducted an investigation and submitted a report after receiving information that Shihabuddin was committing fraud by promising to cure diabetes. However, neither the police nor the health department took further action on this.

Police had arrested Shameera's husband Nayas (47), a native of Poonthura, the other day. He told the police that he provided acupuncture treatment to his wife. At the time of the incident, only Nayas's first wife and daughter were there at the house. Minister V Sivankutty and health workers, who visited the spot, said that Nayas's daughter was learning acupuncture treatment. The post-mortem report stated that Shameera and the baby died due to non-availability of treatment.