BATTERED BY FATHER BANGALORE BABY AFREEN DIED

BATTERED BY FATHER BANGALORE BABY AFREEN DIED

Afreen, the three-month-old Bangalore girl who was battered by her own father as he wanted a son, died Wednesday after battling for life for several days, hospital authorities here said."The baby suffered cardiac arrest at 10.40 a.m. We tried resuscitation. She passed away at 11.10 a.m.," Some Gowda, medical superintendent of the government-run Vani Vilas Hospital, told reporters.
The baby was on ventilation and life support since Sunday and doctors attending to her had said Tuesday it would take at least three weeks for them to conclude whether she would survive or not.The baby had suffered brain haemorrhage due to a severe head injury, had bite marks on several parts of the body and some burn injuries, doctors said but could not confirm the cause of the burns.

The baby's 19-year-old mother Reshma Bhanu, the daughter of a fruit vendor, was inconsolable as doctors broke the tragic news to her.Afreen's father Umar Farook, 25, a car painter, has been arrested on the complaint of his wife that he had brutally assaulted the baby because he wanted a male child.He has been sent to jail till April 21.

                                                 Prof. John Kurakar