A shocking incident of infant theft has occurred at a government-run medical college and hospital in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, raising severe concerns over patient security in healthcare facilities.
Masked Woman Poses as Nurse, Takes Baby
According to the victim's mother, Sarita Devi, a resident of Bhelwa village in Tundi, the terrifying event unfolded on Saturday night around 8 pm. Sarita, who was admitted to the Shaheed Nirmal Mahto Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH) on December 24 along with her husband Shaligram Marandi, had recently delivered a baby boy in the obstetrics ward.
She reported that an unidentified woman, pretending to be a hospital nurse, entered the ward. The woman claimed she needed to conduct a routine examination of the newborn. Trusting the imposter, Sarita handed over her baby. The woman then walked out of the ward with the infant, and when the anxious mother tried to follow, the suspect vanished within the hospital premises.
Frantic Search and Police Investigation Launched
After the baby did not return for a long time, family members began a desperate search across the hospital complex. Finding no trace of the newborn, they immediately alerted the hospital administration.
Saraidhela police were promptly informed and rushed to the scene. Officer-in-Charge Manjit Kumar stated that an investigation is actively underway. Key evidence has emerged from CCTV footage, which reportedly shows a woman wearing a face mask and carrying a newborn in her arms.
"Based on the CCTV visuals, we are interrogating the hospital staff who were on duty at the time of the incident. Our goal is to gather all possible details and establish the exact sequence of events," Kumar explained.
Family Accuses Hospital of Negligence, Administration Responds
The distraught family has accused the SNMMCH administration of gross negligence. They argue that the theft could have been prevented with stricter security protocols and proper monitoring of visitors entering sensitive areas like the maternity ward. The family's primary demands are the immediate recovery of the baby and strict punitive action against those responsible for the security lapse.
Responding to the allegations, Senior Hospital Manager Dr. Suman Kumar confirmed that police were informed as soon as the matter came to light. He emphasized that the hospital administration is cooperating fully with the police in the joint investigation.
"All possible efforts are being made to safely recover the newborn," Dr. Kumar assured the public, highlighting the ongoing efforts to resolve the case.
This incident has triggered panic on the hospital campus and has sparked a serious debate about the adequacy of safety measures for patients and their families in government healthcare institutions.
