Cuttack, Dec 19: A 14-year-old minor girl, who was allegedly raped several months ago, was rescued along with her newborn baby after a raid conducted by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) at a private hospital in Cuttack district. The girl, a Class 10 student, had given birth just a few days ago.

The case came to light after the CWC received a tip-off and, in coordination with local police, raided the private hospital in Pratapnagari under Cuttack Sadar police limits. Preliminary investigations revealed that the girl had been admitted to the hospital on November 15, after her family noticed unusual physical changes and suspected a pregnancy. An ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy, and the girl disclosed that she had been abducted and raped.

According to her account, the minor, a resident of Khuntakata in the Maniabandha police jurisdiction, was returning home from school on her bicycle when she was intercepted by two men near Rengali Bridge. The men allegedly forced her under the bridge, where one of them raped her. Traumatized and fearful, the girl did not inform her family about the incident at the time.

On December 14, the girl was admitted to the same hospital at around 2:40 AM, where she gave birth to a baby boy. Upon receiving the tip-off, the CWC directed a special administrative team to raid the hospital. Both the mother and her newborn were rescued during the operation. Due to health complications, the infant was immediately transferred to Sishu Bhawan (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics) for intensive care.

The survivor’s statement was recorded, and she was medically examined at the district headquarters hospital before being relocated to the Basundhara Open Shelter Home. An attendant was assigned to care for the infant at Sishu Bhawan.

Police have registered a case of rape and abduction and has started investigation into the matter.