Mother leaves baby at railway station, GRP in a fix

An infant, found abandoned in the waiting hall of Bhubaneswar Railway Station here, sent the police into a tizzy on Friday. Unsure of how to handle the two-month-old baby, the Government Railway Police (GRP) called in the Childline for custody of the infant.

 While there was a buzz around the railway station over how the baby was abandoned with the media splashing it all over the news, a woman, who claimed to be the baby’s mother, arrived several hours later. She had apparently left the baby in the waiting hall to get a shower in one of the trains, police investigation revealed later. She was identified as Anusuya Panigrahy.

 It was during the morning hours that passengers spotted the baby on the waiting hall floor. Initially, they did not know what to do and thought someone might have gone to fetch water or food from the platform. However, as no one returned to take custody of the baby, the police were informed.

 “The kid appeared anaemic. We had to seek help of the Childline because we could not wait for anyone to stake claim because taking care of an infant at the police station is not advisable,” said Inspector In Charge of GRP, Bhubaneswar, Smruti Ranjan Kar.

While the Childline took custody of the baby, Anusuya appeared several hours later seeking the infant. She was quizzed by the police which later sent her to Childline to meet the procedural needs.

It was revealed that Anusuya has been staying on the platform, begging alms for survival. Although she is a native of Jajpur, she had left her home because of abuse by in-laws and delivered the baby at Capital Hospital about two months ago.

 On Friday, like she did on other days, she left the baby at the waiting hall __ since it is crowded __ to get a bath in one of the trains. Police believe she might have got into one compartment to sweep the floor and collect a few rupees for livelihood.

Much to her dismay, the train left and she could get down only at Dhenkanal. It took her about three hours to return. By that time, rumours like a baby born out of wedlock being dumped and child sale had done the rounds.