punjab

Updated: Aug 17, 2017 22:53 IST

At 8:50, the 10-year-old rape victim stepped out of private room towards the operation theatre, where she thought she was going to get rid of stones, which were making her stomach fat. At 9:32, she delivered a baby girl.

It is learnt that neither the 10-year-old mother nor her parents have seen the face of the newborn, who is admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit.

While the situation was quite tense before the operation, the news of operation being successful brought a sense of relief for parents, doctors, members of child welfare committee who are associated with the case from very beginning.

“The 10-year-old’s mother had cried several times. She cried last evening as well. In the morning, she was waiting anxiously with wet eyes inside the room adjoining OT,” said one of the members of child welfare committee.

“They did not want to listen to anything about the newborn, neither the gender nor the baby’s health status. Hence, the gender identification was done by a person authorised by Child Welfare Committee,” said the counsellor.

It is also learnt that the girl’s father, who could not face her daughter undergoing delivery, tried his best to leave the ward where her daughter was admitted.

“He made several excuses to exit from the hospital for some time, as he was finding it difficult to face the situation. We provided him full support and told him that his daughter needs him the most,” said one of the counsellors.

“As the parents of the 10-year-old child had refused to see the face of the newborn, the gender identification was done by the members of the Child Welfare Committee,” said Dr AK Janmeja.

He said that the department has still not decided that what they will write in the medical records, as they can’t reveal the mother’s identity.

According to sources, both mother and child will be discharged in the next 3-5 days. While it will take at least a month for the girl to return to her routine life, the newborn will be taken to Ashiana, a specialised adoption agency.