Newborn dies at Stanley Hospital after mother allegedly attempts to flush her down toilet

Chennai: In a shocking incident, a newborn girl died at Stanley Medical College Hospital on October 24 after her 19-year-old mother allegedly attempted to flush the infant down a toilet at a private clinic in Tiruvottiyur. Police are considering adding murder charges to the case after a postmortem report reportedly revealed injuries on the infant's body. 

According to the news reports, the woman, a resident of Ennore who had completed Class XII, was admitted to the private clinic on October 24 with labour pain. Her parents were aware of her pregnancy but had not accompanied her to the hospital.

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A preliminary inquiry reportedly revealed that the woman had been in a relationship with a lorry driver from Ennore for four years. However, after she became pregnant, the man allegedly refused to marry her and subsequently married another woman, police sources said.

According to the Tiruvottiyur police inquiry, the woman complained of diarrhoea after being admitted to the clinic and was permitted to use the restroom.

She reportedly remained inside for nearly two hours. When she did not come back, hospital staff became suspicious and knocked on the door. They subsequently opened it and discovered the newborn girl, who had allegedly been delivered inside the restroom. 

Police suspect that the woman attempted to flush the infant down the toilet but failed.

Both the woman and the newborn were shifted to Stanley Medical College Hospital for treatment. However, the infant died a few hours later, and her body was sent for a postmortem examination to establish the cause of death and the nature of the injuries.

Following information from the hospital, Tiruvottiyur police initially registered a case under sections of the BNS on October 24. The postmortem report received on Tuesday confirmed injuries on the infant’s body. The woman remains under treatment and has not been arrested, reports TNIE.

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