Balasore: Raising serious concerns about the safety and security at government hospitals, a newborn boy was allegedly stolen by a woman from the maternity ward of Balasore district headquarters hospital in Odisha. Police rescued the child from Jaleswar and handed the baby over to the parents. Two women including the ASHA worker who accompanied the family have been detained.

As per reports, one Purnachandra Dandapata's wife Anita from Kulhachada village in Baliapal block delivered a baby boy after she was admitted to the DHH on Sunday. She was accompanied by her mother in-law and ASHA worker Sandhyarani Jena.

After delivery, an unidentified woman approached Anita and played with the baby. She reportedly went with the ASHA worker and the two women had a long conversation. The woman then came and took the baby on the pretext of vaccination. She handed over the child after sometime to gain the confidence of the family. Sometime later, when the mother in-law and the ASHA worker were not around, the woman again came and took away the child.

When Anita did not find the baby, she raised a hue and cry. Unable to find the child, family members filed a complaint at the Town Police Station. During investigation, police identified the ASHA worker and the woman via CCTV camera installed in the hospital. The footage showed the two women talking and one of them taking the baby. A search team was then formed and the baby traced to Jaleswar.

Commenting on the incident, Public Health Officer of Balasore Mrutyunjay Mishra said the matter is under investigation and strict action will be taken against hospital authorities including the ASHA worker if found guilty.

In April, a similar incident had taken place where a newborn undergoing treatment at the SNCU of the hospital was allegedly stolen. The baby was later recued from Durgadevi village