PHILLAUR: In a deeply distressing case from Phillaur, a 14-year-old minor girl gave birth to a baby boy inside an ambulance en route to the Civil Hospital. Tragically, the newborn died six days later, prompting a police investigation that has led to the arrest of the alleged rapist.
According to police sources, the minor had been experiencing severe abdominal pain when her maternal uncle rushed her to the hospital. However, she delivered the child in the ambulance before reaching the facility. Due to her critical condition and young age, doctors referred her to a hospital in Jalandhar for further treatment.
The infant, reportedly in fragile health since birth, succumbed during treatment. The family, overwhelmed by grief, buried the child at a local cremation ground without informing authorities. Upon learning of the incident, Phillaur police registered a zero FIR and transferred the case to the girl’s native village police station near Muktsar.
During preliminary investigation, the minor revealed that she had been working as domestic help in a household due to her family’s financial hardship. She alleged that the homeowner repeatedly raped her, threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the abuse. The girl’s mother eventually removed her from the job and sent her to live with her maternal uncle near Phillaur. It was only after her pregnancy became visible that the family learned the truth.
DSP Phillaur Sarwan Singh Bal told here today the accused has been booked under Section 65(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. These sections pertain to aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a minor under 16 and carry stringent penalties, including life imprisonment.
Police have since exhumed the infant’s body and sent it for post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Further investigation is underway.