Ahmedabad: Baby girl found floating in watery grave

AHMEDABAD: When people at the riverfront near Ambedkar Bridge spotted a small object floating down the river, they thought it was probably a doll dropped by some child into the water. Not willing to take a chance, however, they alerted swimmers deputed along the riverfront. What the men brought ashore left everyone shocked: the doll turned out to be a welldressed newborn girl, fished out of her watery grave.
The image was a study in contrast. The infant was attired in a summery white strappy dress with blue and pink flowers on it. However, the body had bloated after being in water for some time. Someone had adorned her forehead with a black tikka, in a futile attempt to ward off evil.
Aghast at seeing the body, people dialled 100 and 108 but the baby was dead.
This is probably the first time that the river has thrown up such a young victim. Sabarmati Riverfront (West) cops have begun an investigation into the case which they have currently registered as ‘accidental death’. Cops estimate the age of the child to be between zero and one month. They believe that she had been thrown into the river.
Though the body was spotted on on Thursday afternoon, cops estimate the incident took place a day or two ago. They have started checking CCTV footage over the past 3-4 days to zero in on any suspect who may have dumped the child in the river.
Police officials said that the baby was taken to Civil Hospital for post-mortem. Prima facie, no strangulation marks or injuries were found on the body. “We are investigating the case and hope to track the culprits soon,” said cops.