Abandoned newborn’s case uncovers rape of 15-year-old girl

Rajkot: The abandonment of a newborn in the city led to the registration of a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act after police found the infant's mother was 15-year-old girl who had been raped.On Jan 27, the newborn was found abandoned near Madhapar Crossroads. According to police, locals alerted the authorities after finding the infant in a railway yard opposite Santoshi Nagar on Jamnagar Road. Gandhigram police, along with an ambulance, rushed the baby to a hospital. The newborn, who was underweight and facing health complications, needed oxygen support and is currently stable under medical care.During the investigation, police reviewed CCTV footage and made inquiries, which led them to the infant's mother — a 15-year-old girl from MP. She had been working in Devbhumi Dwarka district with her brother.Police said the girl said that about 10 months ago, Anil Bhuriya, who is from Garbada in Dahod district, had raped her, which led to the pregnancy. The siblings later moved to Rajkot for work, where the girl delivered the baby. Fearing stigma, the family allegedly abandoned the newborn and returned to MP.Police sub-inspector P B Varotariya confirmed that the girl's family had been called back from MP. Bhuriya has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Pocso Act. As the alleged rape happened in Devbhumi Dwarka district, the complaint has been transferred there.A complaint was also lodged at Gandhigram police station regarding the unsafe abandonment of the child. The newborn remains under medical care at Civil Hospital.