Two women were caught attempting to abduct a newborn baby in the early hours of Wednesday at Balasore District Headquarters Hospital.
A baby girl, born just seven days ago to Satyabrata Das from Bhogarai block, was allegedly snatched from her mother’s arms, causing panic among patients and hospital staff.
The mother raised an alarm, waking up immediately as the suspects attempted to flee with the baby. Local residents and family members quickly intervened, managing to capture one of the women before she could escape. The second suspect was detained shortly thereafter.
The police have launched an investigation and are questioning both women to determine if they are connected to an organised child trafficking ring. The Town Police have taken the two women into custody for interrogation, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 2:30 AM when the suspects allegedly tried to snatch the newborn from her mother. Startled by the sudden movement, the mother awoke and raised an alarm. As the suspects attempted to flee, local residents quickly captured one of them, while the second woman was caught soon after.
The baby’s mother, the wife of Satyabrata Das from Bhogarai block, had given birth to a baby girl just a week prior at the hospital. This incident has raised concerns about hospital security, especially since similar cases of newborn theft have been reported in the past. Last year, two babies were stolen from the hospital premises but were later rescued by the police from the Remuna and Jaleswar areas.
The repeated incidents of baby theft have made pregnant women and new mothers anxious about their safety. Authorities are now investigating whether the detained women are part of a larger trafficking network. There are suspicions that hospital staff or insiders may be involved, as it seems unlikely that outsiders could enter the maternity ward to attempt such a crime without assistance.
Additionally, recent controversies surrounding twin births at the hospital have fueled speculation that newborn trafficking may be an ongoing issue. If allegations of twin births are confirmed, there is a possibility that one of the babies was stolen.
The police are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind this attempted theft of a newborn and to identify any individuals involved in the racket.
