TNN | Apr 10, 2012, 06.19AM IST
BANGALORE: After Delhi's battered baby Falak who died at AIIMS last month, India added yet another shameful chapter to the story of battered and unwanted girl children on Monday when three-month-old Hina, smothered and poisoned by her father who did not want a girl child, was admitted to a hospital's ICU struggling for survival. Doctor's said chances of her survival appeared slim.
Hina's (name changed) father Umar Farooq was arrested on Monday and according to the police he has confessed trying to kill his daughter. Reshma Banu, Hina's anguished mother, recalled how her husband Umar sent her on Friday to buy biscuits and then stuffed poison-laced food into the infant's mouth to get rid of her.
"I was surprised when he said he'd feed the baby," said Reshma, adding, "I was shocked by his sudden love for the child. He took the milk bowl from me, gave me money, and sent me to the nearest shop. I thought he had changed and would start loving our daughter.''
A suspicious Reshma, however, returned quickly and saw Umar wipe the baby's mouth with blood on it. "I asked him what happened, but he said nothing. Suddenly my daughter started vomiting blood. I realised he might have poisoned her," Reshma said.
On noticing that Hina was breathless, Reshma took money from her mother-in-law and rushed to a hospital. "We returned home after the doctor gave her medicines," she said.
But the worst was yet to come. Umar then allegedly tried to smother the sleeping infant. Reshma said she woke up around four am and switched on the light to see Umar trying to smother the child. "He had pressed the pillow against her face. I called my mother and brother-in-law and shifted her to Bowring Hospital," recalled Reshma with a shudder.
Now that Umar is under arrest, Reshma says there's no point to returning to him. "I wasn't ready to marry him as he was a divorcee and we had huge age difference. It was because of family pressure that I married him. He turned out be an alcoholic and drug addict. He'd say that I'd have to give him Rs 1 lakh if I gave birth to a girl," she said, adding "I was carrying twins. Sadly, one got aborted during my second month of pregnancy."
The police have booked Umar for attempt to murder and section 23 of juvenile justice act. "He confessed he tried to smother the sleeping child. We strongly suspect he was drunk when he attacked his daughter," said a police officer.
Nina Nayak, chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, told TOI that the commission would speak to Reshma on Tuesday. "It's a barbaric act. How can a father do this to his child? We'll record the mother's version and investigate the crime thoroughly," Nayak said.
Link: Dad poisons ‘unwanted’ baby girl
Hina's (name changed) father Umar Farooq was arrested on Monday and according to the police he has confessed trying to kill his daughter. Reshma Banu, Hina's anguished mother, recalled how her husband Umar sent her on Friday to buy biscuits and then stuffed poison-laced food into the infant's mouth to get rid of her.
"I was surprised when he said he'd feed the baby," said Reshma, adding, "I was shocked by his sudden love for the child. He took the milk bowl from me, gave me money, and sent me to the nearest shop. I thought he had changed and would start loving our daughter.''
A suspicious Reshma, however, returned quickly and saw Umar wipe the baby's mouth with blood on it. "I asked him what happened, but he said nothing. Suddenly my daughter started vomiting blood. I realised he might have poisoned her," Reshma said.
On noticing that Hina was breathless, Reshma took money from her mother-in-law and rushed to a hospital. "We returned home after the doctor gave her medicines," she said.
But the worst was yet to come. Umar then allegedly tried to smother the sleeping infant. Reshma said she woke up around four am and switched on the light to see Umar trying to smother the child. "He had pressed the pillow against her face. I called my mother and brother-in-law and shifted her to Bowring Hospital," recalled Reshma with a shudder.
Now that Umar is under arrest, Reshma says there's no point to returning to him. "I wasn't ready to marry him as he was a divorcee and we had huge age difference. It was because of family pressure that I married him. He turned out be an alcoholic and drug addict. He'd say that I'd have to give him Rs 1 lakh if I gave birth to a girl," she said, adding "I was carrying twins. Sadly, one got aborted during my second month of pregnancy."
The police have booked Umar for attempt to murder and section 23 of juvenile justice act. "He confessed he tried to smother the sleeping child. We strongly suspect he was drunk when he attacked his daughter," said a police officer.
Nina Nayak, chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, told TOI that the commission would speak to Reshma on Tuesday. "It's a barbaric act. How can a father do this to his child? We'll record the mother's version and investigate the crime thoroughly," Nayak said.
Link: Dad poisons ‘unwanted’ baby girl
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