The mother of the child had reportedly got down at Kishanganj station to fetch water, leaving the child in the coach, and the train left the station without her
The child was recovered by Railway Protection Force personnel and taken to the Siliguri District Hospital in August. (Photo: SNS)
Strict rules of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) that are asking for several documents to prove his identity has debarred a seven-month-old male child at a Siliguri hospital from being handed over to his mother. The child was recovered by personnel of the Railway Protection Force from a train and taken to the Siliguri District Hospital (SDH) four months ago, it is learnt.
According to sources, the mother has been found but the handover of the child to her will have to wait until her identify has been verified.
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The mother of the child, Rabri Devi (21), a resident of Kishanganj in Bihar, had reportedly got down at Kishanganj station to fetch water, leaving the child in the coach, when the train left the station without her. Hospital authorities said the baby was brought there on 25 August, and had been kept in the paediatric ward ever since.
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“The Childline foundation has given us the responsibility to look after the baby until the legal parents are found,” said SDH superintendent Dr Amitava Mondal.
When the baby was brought to the Siliguri hospital, the administration got in touch with the CWC. “The CWC has given us in writing that the baby can be given to the parents only after it verifies their identity. At present, no one has come to claim the child, and we will strictly follow the CWC orders,” Dr Mondal said.
Additional in-charge of the Darjeeling district CWC, Kantivishwa Mahato, also said the baby would be allowed to go home only after the parents’ identity was verified.
“The baby has been kept at the SDH, and he will be handed over to the rightful parents only after the identity is verified. Documents should be produced to claim the baby,” Mahato said.
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