Hyderabad: A six-day-old baby girl died after suffering from fever, triggering suspicion that it could be a case of female infanticide, in Nalgonda district on Friday. The baby was said to be the fourth child and third daughter to her parents.
Sources said Madavath Sharada and Mangtha, daily wage workers at Polynayak tanda in Chandampet mandal, had a baby girl weighing about 2.9 kg on January 21 at the Devarakonda Government Hospital. The couple has a son and two daughters.
The baby who was said to be healthy at birth suddenly fell sick on Friday. Her parents took her to a private hospital in Devarakonda and returned home after treatment. The doctor apparently gave her vitamins and glucose supplements.
After they returned home, the baby vomited a couple of times and died within an hour. Her parents and other family members buried the body on the village outskirts without informing the locals.
News spread in the village and came to the notice of officials of the Integrated Child Development Scheme. They rushed to the village and conducted an inquiry.
“We are verifying the details. We are questioning the doctor who treated the child.” said an official who visited the village. Police said that a prima facie inquiry revealed that the child had died of ill health, but they were investigating the matter.
