Newborn Girl Strangled Inside Hospital SNCU in Ashoknagar, Police Suspect Family A newborn girl admitted to the special newborn care unit at an Ashoknagar hospital in Madhya Pradesh was strangled to death, with police suspecting family members over her being the third girl child in the household. A disturbing incident has emerged from a hospital in Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh, where a newborn girl was strangled to death inside the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU). Following the discovery of the infant's body inside the medical facility, authorities disclosed on Sunday that suspicion points heavily toward the child's own mother or grandmother. Investigators are examining whether deep-seated prejudice against having another female child prompted the crime inside what should have been a secure care unit. Infant Found Dead in Special Care Unit Hours After Birth The victim was born around 11:50 pm on Friday night into a joint family residing in Sakra village under the Chanderi area. Immediately after her delivery, the newborn was shifted to the hospital's SNCU for specialized monitoring. Ravipratap Singh Chauhan, in-charge of the Kotwali police station, stated that the infant was found dead inside the unit between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. The occurrence of a fatal assault inside a monitored ward has raised severe concerns regarding institutional oversight. Police Focus Investigation on Mother and Grandmother According to the investigating officers, both the newborn's mother and grandmother were present inside the SNCU during the critical hours. Station in-charge Ravipratap Singh Chauhan noted that police are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and have strong suspicions that either the mother or the grandmother was responsible for strangling the child, with suspicion pointing mostly toward the mother. Delving into the family structure revealed that the deceased child was her parents' second daughter. Her father's elder brother had one daughter from his first wife, though he has no children from his second wife. Consequently, the newborn was the third daughter in the broader joint household. The investigating officer stated that there is a very high probability that the family killed the infant to get rid of her simply because she represented the third girl in the family. Police personnel are recording statements and collecting forensic evidence to definitively establish responsibility. Autopsy Indicates Strangulation Amid Missing Camera Coverage A crucial breakthrough in the case came when the doctor performing the post-mortem examination observed clear marks around the newborn's neck, strongly indicating strangulation. While formal administrative receipt of the full post-mortem report remains awaited, physical signs pointed toward deliberate foul play. Investigators have faced challenges due to the total absence of CCTV cameras within the SNCU, leaving no direct visual recordings of the movements inside the ward. Police are probing the precise motive and sequence of events leading to the asphyxiation, working to identify the specific perpetrator through witness testimonies. Statistics Highlight Prevalence of Infanticide in the Region The incident reflects a broader and troubling pattern of crimes against newborns. According to data from 2023, as many as 67 cases of infanticide were registered across India, out of which Madhya Pradesh accounted for 12 cases, ranking second in the country behind Haryana. Furthermore, foeticide figures from the same year showed 88 incidents nationwide, with Madhya Pradesh reporting 20 cases, placing the state second behind Chhattisgarh. The state also recorded alarming numbers regarding the abandonment of newborns, logging 140 such instances out of a national total of 653, making it the highest among all Indian states in abandoned infant cases. What this means for you This case exposes severe security vulnerabilities within neonatal hospital wards and highlights ongoing social prejudices against female infants. • Across India: Healthcare authorities across the country may face renewed pressure to implement mandatory CCTV surveillance and strict visitor controls within specialized newborn units. Parents and guardians must remain vigilant regarding hospital security protocols and access restrictions during neonatal admissions. • In Madhya Pradesh: Hospitals in Ashoknagar and across the state are likely to undergo safety audits concerning ward access and monitoring. The incident also brings renewed administrative focus to tackling female infanticide and newborn abandonment in the region. • For hospital protocols: Medical facilities are expected to re-evaluate staff oversight and patient tracking inside critical infant wards. Stricter protocols regarding the presence and monitoring of attendants near vulnerable newborns could follow. • Legal implications: The local police are working to establish accountability through forensic findings and testimonies. A rigorous prosecution could set a significant deterrent against family-driven violence targeting girl children. Why this happened Investigators are piecing together the motives and circumstantial failures that led to the newborn girl's death inside the care unit. • Direct cause: Physical examination during the post-mortem revealed neck compressions indicative of manual strangulation, leading to asphyxiation. • Alleged motive: Police suspect the family sought to eliminate the infant because she was the third girl child in the joint household, reflecting gender-biased hostility. • Security lapse: The lack of operational CCTV cameras inside the SNCU created an unmonitored blind spot, allowing the act to occur without immediate detection. • Regional context: Statistical records from 2023 demonstrate high incidences of infanticide and infant abandonment in Madhya Pradesh, underlining persistent underlying vulnerabilities. Questions & Answers 1. Where and when did this incident take place? The incident occurred inside the SNCU of a hospital in Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh, where an infant born late Friday night was found dead on Saturday afternoon. 2. Who do the police suspect in the newborn's death? The police strongly suspect either the mother or the grandmother, with suspicion pointing primarily toward the mother. 3. What motive is being investigated by the authorities? Authorities suspect the family murdered the infant to get rid of her because she was the third girl child in the joint household. 4. What was the cause of death according to medical examination? Marks around the infant's neck found during the autopsy strongly indicated that she was strangled. 5. Is there any CCTV footage available from inside the ward? No, there were no CCTV cameras installed inside the SNCU ward, meaning no visual recording of the incident exists. 6. How does Madhya Pradesh rank in national infanticide statistics? In 2023, Madhya Pradesh recorded 12 out of 67 infanticide cases nationwide, ranking second in India behind Haryana. https://trendkia.com/en/madhya-pradesh/ashoknagar-aspatala-ke-sncu-varda-men-navajata-bachchi-ki-gala-dabakara-hatya-parijanon-para-gaharaya-sndeha-42831 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.