Dharmapuri: The mysterious death of an infant on Saturday night exposed the fact that female infanticide continues in Dharmapuri despite the efforts of the district administration to end the menace.
G. Ponni, 23, of Venkatasamuthiram village, in Pappireddipatti police station limits, gave birth to a girl baby in Dharmapuri government medical college and hospital.
On Wednesday, Ponni and her infant were discharged from the hospital as their health condition was good, but the baby girl died mysteriously on Saturday.
The relatives of the family allege that the baby had fallen ill and was taken to the government hospital in Pappireddipatti, where doctors said the infant was brought dead. The Pappireddipatti police have sent the body for post-mortem because female infanticide was suspected in the death of the newborn girl.
According to police sources, 15 cases of suspected female infanticide were registered and seven of them have been proved as infanticide and the accused booked. Besides, a case has been booked against a woman doctor on charges of violating pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic Act. A quack was also booked for practising sex selective abortions in the villages.
The Dharmapuri revenue authorities on anonymity argue that female infanticide had declined in Dharmapuri after the introduction of cradle baby scheme in the district. The centre has so far received more than 1,300 babies since it was established in 2003.
