Newborn’s body left in Sehore mortuary for 4 days:Father found at labour site after police search; claims farmer confined him over ₹70,000 debt

A father walked out of the district hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore on Thursday carrying the body of his newborn daughter in his arms after the baby’s body remained in the hospital mortuary for four days. The baby’s father, Ravi Raghuvanshi, alleged that he could not reach the hospital because a farmer had forcibly detained him over a debt of ₹70,000. Following the allegations, police have started investigating the case from the angle of bonded labour. The newborn was one of twin sisters born on March 24. One baby died during delivery, while the other was born premature and underweight at just 1.4 kg. She had been undergoing treatment in the ICU of the district hospital for nearly 40 days before she died on May 3. Phones switched off, police trace parents to labour site According to police, the hospital repeatedly tried to contact the family after the baby’s death, but their phones remained switched off. When no one arrived to collect the body for four days, the hospital informed the police. Police first reached the family’s house in Hakimabad village of Ashta tehsil in Sehore district. They later found that the couple had gone to Jaleriya village near Sonkachh in Dewas district for labour work. A police team then traced the parents and brought them back to Sehore, where the baby’s body was handed over to the family on Thursday. Father alleges farmer stopped him from visiting hospital During questioning, Ravi told police that he worked as a labourer for farmer Manoj Jat and owed him around ₹70,000. He alleged that the farmer had confined him and another labourer because of the unpaid amount. Ravi claimed he was not allowed to visit the hospital even though his daughter was admitted there. He told police that his daughter’s life might have been saved had he been allowed to reach the hospital in time. Baby was premature and critically weak, say doctors Sehore District Hospital Civil Surgeon Dr U.K. Shrivastava said twin girls were born to Ravi and his wife Anjali Raghuvanshi on March 24. One baby died during childbirth, while the second was admitted to the ICU due to her critical condition. Doctors said the newborn remained under treatment for around 40 days but could not survive because of complications linked to premature birth and severe weakness. Hospital officials said the baby’s father visited the hospital only once or twice during the treatment period. They also said that at the time of admission, the family did not submit Aadhaar details or personal mobile numbers. Only the phone number of the farm owner was registered with the hospital. Police probing bonded labour angle Police said the matter is under investigation and officials are examining whether the labourer was forcibly detained. Action will be taken if the allegations are found to be true.