Abandoned newborn left to die with stone in mouth and lips glued shut | World | News

This is the shocking moment an abandoned newborn with a stone in his mouth and lips glued shut to stop him crying is found in a pile of rocks. The tiny baby was found in the Bhilwara district in the Indian state of Rajasthan, on Tuesday – apparently having been left to die.

Video shows the infant lying among stones and rubbish as a cattle herder prises open his mouth, and the child instantly begins to cry when the stone is removed. The herder and other villagers carried the boy to the Bijolia Government Hospital for urgent treatment. Doctors said the baby was between 15 and 20 days old. Medical staff found adhesive not only around the mouth but also on the child’s thighs.

Police said the use of glue and the stone seemed to be aimed at preventing the baby from making any sound, which might draw attention.

Investigators are checking delivery records in nearby hospitals to identify mothers who recently gave birth.

Officers are also interviewing residents in surrounding villages as they attempt to trace the child’s parents.

The case has highlighted wider concerns in India, where similar abandonment incidents have been reported in recent months.

Earlier in September, a five-month-old girl was found in bushes in Chandigarh after being left unattended.

In a second case in Jharkhand, a baby was rescued from a drain with fractured hands.

Police in Rajasthan said their investigation is continuing and that the child remains under medical supervision.