Idukki couple held over abandoning newborn

Velliyamattom, Idukki: A couple has been arrested over allegedly abandoning their newborn on the verandah of an orphanage in the district.

Amal Raj, 31, a resident of Ayarkunnam Kottayam and his wife Aparna, 26, were taken into custody by the Kanjar Police. 

The newborn girl was found on the veranda of Emmanuel Children's Home at Pannimattom at 11.30 am on Sunday. 

According to police, the couple was estranged and living separately following a family feud.  They also have another child which is two years old. However, recently both came together and started living together on the agreement that if a child is born to them, they will abandon it. In the meanwhile the woman became pregnant. 

On Sunday morning, Aparna experienced labour pain. The woman delivered the girl while being taken to a hospital in a friend’s vehicle. Subsequently, on reaching the orphanage at Pannimattom the couple abandoned the child on the verandah and fled from the spot. After reaching Nellappara they washed the bloodstains in the vehicle, changed clothes and returned home.

On Sunday when the infant was spotted on the verandah, the orphanage authorities examined the CCTV camera footage. All vehicles which passed by on Sunday were traced.

By Sunday night, the Kanjar police went to Kottayam and traced the vehicle owner. Soon Amal Kumar and Aparna were identified and taken into custody.

Aparna has been admitted to the District Hospital at Thodupuzha under police watch. Amal Kumar was produced in the court.

The accused were arrested by a police team comprising Kanjar SI P T Bijoy and Ismail; ASI Ubaiz; and civil police officers Shahjahan, Ashwathi, KK Biju, Joy, Anas and Biju George.