Overview
- A 16-year-old resident of the Sri D. Devaraj Urs Pre-Matric Girls Hostel delivered a baby in the hostel washroom early on November 26 and both mother and newborn are stable in hospital.
- Police have arrested the prime accused, identified as 23-year-old Hanumagouda, under the POCSO Act and related laws, and he has been sent to judicial custody, according to the district police chief.
- The FIR also names the hostel warden, two teachers and two National Child Health Programme doctors for alleged negligence in failing to detect or report the minor’s pregnancy.
- District officials visited the hospital as the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights registered a suo motu case and wrote to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police seeking action details within three days.
- Authorities have suspended the warden and two hostel employees and dismissed the night-shift watchman for dereliction of duty, a senior Backward Classes Welfare official said.