Newborn Baby Allegedly Strangled To Death, Buried In Hospital Courtyard; Doctor Arrested

Four people were arrested Tuesday in connection with the death of a newborn baby girl in Pakistan. The infant was allegedly strangled to death, and her body was found by the police in the courtyard of a hospital in the city of Dijkot.

The police said a doctor killed the newborn baby, and then buried her body after digging a pit in the courtyard of the medical facility, news outlet Express Tribune reported. The police were alerted about the incident, following which they cordoned off the hospital premises.

A case was registered against seven people, including a woman. As part of the probe, the police arrested a doctor, his son and two dispensers. The doctor was identified only as Ilyas, while the two dispensers as Asad Ilyas and Owais, the report said. The other suspects were identied as Rukhsana Bibi and Yasir Ali.

During questioning, the doctor said a woman had left her baby at the hospital after giving birth. He confessed the hospital team had handed over the baby to a childless couple. However, the couple – Ali and Bibi – were asking for a baby boy, the Express Tribune reported.

The doctor said the child was abandoned, and had died from exposure to the cold. He then buried the body of the child after digging a pit. However, the police suspect the infant was strangled to death.

Local police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of death. They are also looking for the biological parents of the child.

In a recent incident in India, a woman strangled her newborn baby and hid the body under a cot. Authorities said the woman used an earphone cable to kill the child. The incident, which took place on Dec. 15, came to light when the woman visited a hospital complaining of bleeding. Doctors found the woman had given birth to a child. However, the family said they were unaware of the woman's pregnancy. The police were informed about the incident and a search was conducted at the woman's home, following which the body of the newborn was found under the cot, wrapped in a cloth.