Mentally challenged woman delivers baby girl in Silchar Civil Hospital; Her pregnancy raises questions

A mentally challenged woman was crying somewhere near Sadarghat in Rongpur when traffic Police officials saw her. The officials approached her to help and were left shocked to see her being heavily pregnant. The officials informed, traffic in-charge Shantanu Das who then went to the spot with lady constables and rescued the woman.

“When we saw her on Thursday near the Sadarghat bridge, she was in immense pain and it was clear that she is pregnant and needs immediate medical attention,” said Das. He along with his officials dropped the woman at Silchar Civil Hospital for treatment, where she delivered the baby today.

Though the woman is mentally challenged, the doctors in Silchar Civil Hospital informed that she has been cooperative pre and post the delivery. She delivered a baby girl who the doctors said is healthy and doing well. Sources in the hospital have informed us that nobody from the woman’s family has approached yet to claim the child and the woman has no clue about the child’s father or family. The authority said that the hospital will provide all necessary treatment and if the family does not approach them then they will hand over the child and mother to the Police.

It is not known if the woman was abandoned by her family after she got pregnant or how she conceived. The Police said they are investigating the matter and trying to demystify how she got pregnant. Meanwhile, if the family is not found then both mother and daughter will be sent to a government-operated home where they can be looked after, informed the Police.

There are many organisations which provide food to people who live road-side. However, their security remains a big issue. Did the woman get pregnant by her wish or is she a victim of exploitation? There are many questions which demand a thorough investigation.