By IANS
Hyderabad : A newborn girl, who miraculously survived live burial by her mother and kin, was shifted from Mahabubnagar to a government-run hospital here Friday while her mother claimed that she was not her baby.
Mehrun Bi, whose father Abdul Rehman and uncle Abdul Rasheed buried the baby alive with her consent, has gone back on her statement.
The woman, who is now in police custody along with her father and uncle on charges of attempt to murder, told newsmen in Mahabubnagar that it was not her baby.
Mehrun and her father had confessed Thursday to the crime before the media. They now alleged that police had pressurized them into making the statement.
The two-day-old girl was saved by a farmer when he saw her little hand protruding from the mud. He then admitted her to a hospital.
Claiming that she got married only five months ago, Mehrun said she was even ready to undergo DNA test to prove this. However, the police have denied her allegation and said they had enough evidence to proceed against the accused.
Charu Sinha, superintendent of police, Mahabubnagar district, said Mherun's statement would have no impact on the investigations. "We will continue the investigations. We have enough evidence against them," she said.
Abdul Rehman, a labourer, had Thursday told media that he already had seven girl children and he did not want the family to be further burdened by another girl child. He had also stated that Mehrun's husband Abdul Gani had deserted her.
Venkat Reddy, a local police official in Otkur village in the district, said Mehrun was indeed the mother of the baby as the villagers had seen her carrying the pregnancy. He said if necessary a DNA test would be conducted to prove this.
The baby was shifted from Mahabubnagar district hospital to Niluofer, the biggest government-run hospital here. Doctors said the baby was stable and had no external injury.
They said since the baby is weak and weighs only 1.7 kg, she would be kept under observation for two days before shifting to Shishuvihar, the childcare centre run by department of women's development and child welfare here.
Meanwhile, a childless couple arrived at the hospital wanting to adopt her.
"I saw the shocking news on television and read about it in newspapers and thought of adopting the child," said Qaiser Sultana, a teacher in Hyderabad.
The woman, who was accompanied by her husband, lifted the baby and kissed her. The hospital staff, however, told them to contact Shishuvihar.
After watching the news on a private TV channel, a childless couple from Kolkata has also expressed the desire to adopt the baby.