Woman posing as caregiver steals newborn from NBMCH

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, APRIL 20,2023: A woman posing as caregiver stole a newly born baby from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) on Thursday afternoon. 

The incident has raised a question regarding the safety and security of the patients a the NBMCH and also why CCTVs installed at the premises were not functioning. 

On Tuesday night, she gave birth to the child. The incident occurred around 12:30 in the afternoon when Ranjita Singha (25) was about to take lunch. 

An elderly woman of 45 to 50 years of age posing as caregiver appeared and asked Ranjita if she need any help for holding the baby. Ranjita thought the woman was a staff of the hospital, so she handed over the baby and went to the washroom to wash her hands. 

On returning from the washroom, she was shocked that the woman was gone and the child was also missing. 

Ranjita filed a missing case at NBMCH police outpost. The police reached the ward to inquire but the CCTV was not working.

According to some taxi drivers, a woman holding a baby had boarded a Toto (E-Rickshaw) and gone away towards Siliguri. 

Hospital Superintendent Dr Sanjay Mallick informed that Ranjita gave birth at Batasi hospital on Monday and was admitted on Wednesday at NBMCH after her health was deteriorating. 

The baby was not admitted with the mother. Mallick said that a fact finding committee would be set up to inquire into the matter. He also said that it was visiting hours and many other people including attendants of patients and relatives visited the hospital.