Thimphu Thromde yesterday disposed of the body of an abandoned newborn  girl found near Mortuary in the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital compound on December 31, 2018.

Children playing around the compound wall of the mortuary first saw the abandoned child and informed fire division police, who immediately informed Thimphu police.

Thimphu police said that although the forensic unit of JDWNRH could not confirm whether the baby was stillborn, it was confirmed that it was not delivered in a hospital. The fully developed body was found with umbilical cord and placenta intact. It was wrapped in a thin pink polythene bag.

This is the third case of infant abandonment registered with Thimphu police in 2018.

According to section 219 of the Penal Code 2004, a defendant shall be guilty of the offence of abandonment of a dead infant if the defendant leaves a dead corpse of an infant in any place or manner other than required by practice of disposal of such corpse.

The offence of abandonment of a dead infant shall be a petty misdemeanor.

Meanwhile, Thimphu police’s mobile patrol team apprehended a 41-year-old taxi driver from Trashigang in possession of 4,590 packets of baba on January 4. The man was caught near the vegetable market in Olakha. This is the first tobacco case registered with Thimphu police this year and it will be soon sent to court.

Nirmala Pokhrel

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