Daijiworld Media Network – Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh, Oct 2: In a shocking case of child abandonment, a three-day-old newborn in Nandanwadi village, Chhindwara, survived a night trapped under a stone in the forest, authorities said. The infant, discovered by villagers at dawn, bore ant bites, hypothermia, and bruises, but medical staff confirm he is now stable under supervision.

According to police, the baby’s parents, Bablu Dandoliya, a government teacher, and Rajkumari Dandoliya, reportedly abandoned the child because he was their fourth, fearing repercussions under government rules limiting employment for parents with more than two children. The couple had kept the pregnancy a secret and delivered the child at home in the early hours of September 23. Within hours, the newborn was taken into the forest and left beneath a stone.

Morning walkers first heard the infant’s cries and rushed to the scene. “We thought it was an animal,” a villager said. “But when we got closer, we saw tiny hands struggling under a stone. No parent should do this.”

Doctors at Chhindwara district hospital described the baby’s survival as miraculous, saying exposure overnight in such conditions is usually fatal. The infant received immediate medical attention and is now in stable condition.

Police have registered a case under Section 93 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for child abandonment. SDOP Kalyani Barkade said authorities are consulting senior officers and that additional charges, including Section 109 BNS (attempt to murder), may be filed after legal review.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns over awareness and adherence to child protection norms.