SILCHAR, April 18 - Amidst the ongoing lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, a mentally challenged woman who was found on the roadside by traffic police gave birth to a girl child on Friday.
Dr Ashutosh Barman, superintendent of Silchar Civil Hospital, said the woman and the newborn were in good health and under care of doctors at the hospital.
�The woman was brought here by traffic police and she gave birth to a girl child weighing 2.6 kg. The woman, aged approximately 30 years, could not even tell her name. We have given her medicines and they are under care. We are happy to see police personnel perform their humane responsibilities at this hour of crisis,� Dr Barman told The Assam Tribune.
He said that besides police, some NGOs were being contacted regarding taking over the responsibilities of the woman and her child.
Santanu Das, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Traffic branch, said the woman was recovered from underneath a bridge at Rongpur on Thursday evening during routine patrol. �When we recovered the woman, she was found to be in deep pain. Along with our women police unit and some locals, we rushed her to the Silchar Civil Hospital. What we understood was she was mentally challenged as well. We are investigating the whereabouts of the woman�s family,� the traffic police officer said.
However, the incident has given risen to questions on the safety of such women found on the streets with no shelter or food.
