Ashamed of having fourth-child, Kerala couple abandons newborn at church
What's the story
A two-day-old baby was abandoned on the steps of a Kochi church as the parents feared society would shame them for having a fourth child, Kerala police revealed on Saturday.
The couple, Bitto and his wife Prabitha, were caught on CCTV camera leaving the child at St George Forane Church in Edappally.
They were traced to Wadakkancherry and booked under relevant IPC sections.
What happened
Before leaving his child, father kisses baby on forehead
The mother agreed to be a part of the father's plan after getting discharged from Thrissur's Government Medical College Hospital, where she delivered the baby.
CCTV footage, which was circulated on TV channels and social media, showed the couple was accompanied by another child.
Before leaving the baby, wrapped in an orange sheet, at the church premises on Friday evening, Bitto kissed her forehead.
The reason
After incident, police track down couple, reveal reason behind act
Bitto told the investigating team that he left his child fearing shaming by the society. Friends of the couple had reportedly laughed at them when Prabitha got pregnant for the fourth time.
The couple also hid the pregnancy from relatives, and were incapable of raising another child.
The police are continuing with the probe to find out more.
The probe
Police slap IPC sections on the couple for callous act
The couple was booked under IPC Section 317 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years by parent or person having the care of it) and Sections 75 (punishment for cruelty to child) and 34 (acts done by several persons with common intention) of the Juvenile Justice Act.
The child was rushed to a private hospital, where the doctors declared it healthy.