Gujarat Police escorts undertrial mother, newborn home in MP after no family member arrives following bail
Ma, y 30
A migrant woman who gave birth while in custody and was left without anyone to take her home after being granted bail, was reunited with her family in Madhya Pradesh after officials from the District Legal Services Authority and Nadiad District Jail arranged transport and police assistance for her journey.
The woman, originally from Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh, had migrated to Gujarat with her family in search of daily-wage employment.
She was lodged in Nadiad District Jail as a co-accused in a case registered in Khambhat town of Anand district under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
According to officials, the pregnant woman was named as a co-accused alongside her husband and brother-in-law in an alleged kidnapping case involving a minor girl. Her brother-in-law is accused of abducting the minor.
When the woman was moved to Nadiad District Jail, she was pregnant and accompanied by her two-year-old child.
On May 21, after experiencing labour pains, she was taken to Nadiad Civil Hospital and later referred to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for specialised treatment, where she gave birth to a baby boy.
Following her treatment, she returned to the jail with her newborn son. She was subsequently living in custody with both her two-year-old child and her infant.
Although a local court later granted her bail, no family member or relative came forward to secure her release.
Her husband and brother-in-law remained in custody, while the family's financial circumstances left her without the means to return home.
Recognising her situation, the DLSA in Anand, provided legal assistance and requested that jail authorities facilitate her safe return to her native village, taking into account her health condition and the needs of her newborn child.
Under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP), K.L.N. Rao, Nadiad District Jail police arranged a special vehicle with support from a local charitable organisation to transport the woman and her children to Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh.
Two police constables accompanied the mother and her children during the journey.
Upon arrival in her village, local police were informed and participated in the process of ensuring her safe handover to family members.
Officials said the woman's family expressed gratitude to the DLSA, Nadiad District Jail authorities, Gujarat Police and others involved in facilitating her return.
The intervention allowed the young mother, travelling with a newborn and a toddler, to be reunited with her family after finding herself without support following her release on bail.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's alarming that a pregnant woman and mother of a toddler was held in jail as a co-accused in a POCSO case. While the escort home is commendable, the justice system needs to look at how undertrial women with children are treated. Being accused doesn't mean losing all dignity, especially for a nursing mother.
Ek taraf yeh khabar hai, aur doosri taraf humari jails mein bheed aur paristhitiyon ki baat hoti hai. Yeh real story hai - poor migrants who are caught in the web of crime because of family members. Police ka role yahan sarahniya hai, lekin legal process mein bhi aur insaaf hona chahiye. Well done Gujarat Police!👏
I can't imagine giving birth in prison, then being left alone with a newborn and a toddler because your family is also locked up or too poor to come get you. The generosity of the charitable organization and the police escort is beautiful, but we must ask: why was she held for so long if she was only a co-accused? Systemic change needed.
This is the kind of news that restores faith in our system. When institutions like DLSA and police work together with compassion, miracles happen. The woman must have felt so lost - imagine having a newborn and a toddler in custody with no one to turn to. But yes, we need more such rehabilitation support for undertrial mothers. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
I appreciate the empathy shown here but something feels off. A
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.