Baripada: A seven-month-old infant, abandoned beside a canal allegedly following a quarrel between his parents, was rescued by two youths in Mayurbhanj district, police said.
The incident occurred near National Highway-18 at Ajadiha village under Baisinga police station when the child’s mother, Ajum Marandi, allegedly left him near the canal following a dispute with her husband, Jitu Hansda.
According to reports, the quarrel between the couple escalated after Jitu allegedly assaulted his wife. In the aftermath, Ajum left their house carrying their infant son. She later allegedly left the child near the canal beside NH-18 and walked away.
The infant was found crying on the roadside as light rain began to fall. He had narrowly escaped falling into the canal.
At the time, Laxmidhar Parida and Mrutyunjay Behera, residents of Badagopalpur village, were passing through the area. Hearing the child’s cries, they stopped and searched the vicinity but could not find anyone with him. As the rain intensified, they rescued the infant and took him to safety.
An elderly person in the area reportedly informed the two youths that a woman had left the child there and crossed the nearby bridge.
Laxmidhar and Mrutyunjay subsequently took the infant to the Govt hospital at Baisinga for treatment and informed the police.
Acting on the information, police traced the child’s mother and brought her to the hospital, where she reportedly narrated the circumstances leading to the incident.
Later, the child’s father also reached the hospital. In the presence of police, the couple took custody of the infant and returned home.
The prompt intervention of the two youths has drawn appreciation from local residents, who said their alertness helped save the infant from a potentially serious danger.
