Probe begins into case of newborn flung to death by 17-year-old mother in Eluru

The Eluru district police launched a probe into the death of a female infant who died after reportedly being hurled off the terrace of a hostel building here on Sunday by her 17-year-old mother.

The mother, an Intermediate student, is an inmate of a hostel run by a missionary institution. She gave birth to the baby inside a toilet of the hostel, took a bath, cleaned the bathroom and then threw the newborn off the terrace of the hostel into a neighbouring residence, killing the baby instantly. The baby’s body was later found by the neighbours who alerted the police.

“We have deputed teams to find out who impregnated the minor girl. The accused will be booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. We will send DNA samples of the dead infant and the minor girl for testing to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) so that we can establish whether she is the biological mother,” police officials said, adding that DNA samples of the accused will also be sent once they make an arrest.

Police are investigating whether the hostel staff and other students were indeed unaware of the minor girl’s pregnancy, or whether there were any attempts to hush up the case. “Right now, our investigation is focused on identifying the person who impregnated the minor girl. We are probing CCTV footage and scanning details in the entry and exit register at the institution,” an official said.

“The girl is in a weak but stable condition. The possible involvement of other hostel inmates in the case is also being probed,” an official said.

“Police will record the statements of the minor girl, her friends, hostel staff and management and her family members,” the officer said.

Speaking to The Hindu on Monday, Eluru district Superintendent of Police K. Pratap Shiva Kishore said that special teams have been deputed to trace the accused.

“Investigating officers are trying to find out whether the baby was thrown from a height, or if she was dumped in the bushes of the neighbouring residence,” said Eluru Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) D. Sravan Kumar.

“Doctors performed an autopsy on the infant’s body and we are awaiting the FSL report,” the SP said, adding that the case is being investigated from all angles.

Meanwhile, officials from the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) and Education Departments directed the local staff to submit a detailed report on the incident.