Came in search of 'Nidhi': Jharkhand parents who abandoned three-week-old baby under police surveillance

KOCHI: The parents from Jharkhand, who had come to Kochi to retrieve their baby 'Nidhi' whom Kerala cherished, are under police surveillance. They had expressed their willingness to take back the baby girl they had abandoned in the hospital. However, when they reached Kochi, the police took them away. After questioning, they were taken to a private hospital and general hospital for medical examination. Statements were taken from the staff and the nurses at the general hospital identified the mother. A letter will be submitted to the Child Welfare Committee tomorrow based on the statements, said North SI P.P. Reji.

The statement said that they abandoned the baby because they did not have money for the baby's treatment. They also expressed their willingness to take back the baby who is under the care of the Child Welfare Committee in Angamaly. The police have decided to take further action after consulting the Child Welfare Committee. It is reported that there is no possibility of arrest.

Their statements will be taken tomorrow as well. It is possible that humanitarian measures will be taken. The final decision will be taken after checking whether they have the conditions to raise the baby safely.

The police had received information as soon as they left Jharkhand by train. When they reached the Kerala border, an officer boarded the train to monitor them.

The three-week-old baby, who was abandoned in the ICU of a private hospital, was shifted to the Ernakulam General Hospital for specialist treatment. The baby recovered after a month and a half of treatment. It was Health Minister Veena George who named her Nidhi. The couple was working at a fish farm in Kottayam. While returning home on the train, the lady felt labour pains. The delivery took place at the Ernakulam General Hospital on January 29. The baby was shifted to a private hospital due to health problems. A bill of Rs 23,000 was paid that day. The husband says that he left Kerala with his wife, who was in the general hospital, when he was informed that he would have to pay Rs 2 lakh more. The couple was found after Kerala police officials informed the officials of Jharkhand, who had come to participate in the All India Police Badminton Tournament held in Ernakulam. The couple had informed the police in a video conference that they left the place because they thought the treatment would cost a lot of money and that there was no hope of the child's survival.