Labourer held captive over debt, dad collects baby’s body 4 days after her death in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: A labourer reached Sehore district hospital to collect the body of his newborn daughter four days after her death, alleging that he had been held captive by a farmer over recovery of borrowed money and was not allowed to visit the hospital earlier.

The infant girl had died on May 3 while undergoing treatment in the hospital’s ICU, where she had been admitted since birth. Police are now investigating the father’s allegations from the angle of bonded labour and illegal confinement.

The newborn was one of twins born to Ravi Raghuvanshi and his wife Anjali on March 24. Doctors said one infant died during delivery, while the second baby girl was born premature and severely underweight at just 1.4 kg. She remained in ICU for nearly 40 days before dying during treatment.

Hospital authorities said repeated attempts were made to contact the family after the infant’s death, but nobody arrived to claim the body. After four days, the hospital informed police.

Police first reached Hakimabad village in Ashta tehsil, where the family lives, but learnt that the couple had gone to Jaleria village near Sonkatch in Dewas district for labour work. Police team later traced the parents and brought them back to Sehore.

Ravi alleged that he worked for a farmer identified as Manoj Jat and owed him nearly Rs 70,000. He claimed the farmer forcibly detained him and another labourer over the unpaid amount and prevented him from visiting the hospital despite knowing about his daughter’s condition.

He told police that had he been allowed to reach the hospital in time, “perhaps the child could have been saved”. Doctors say the infant weighed only 1.4 kg and remained in ICU for around 40 days. Despite treatment, she could not survive.

Hospital officials said the father had visited the hospital only once or twice during the treatment period. They added that at the time of admission, the family had not submitted Aadhaar details or their personal mobile number and only the contact number of the farm owner was registered.

Police said statements are being recorded and action will be taken after investigation if the allegations are found to be true.
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