Click to play videoNayagarh (Orissa): They were killed before they could be born. Killed because they would grow up to be girls.
On Sunday, the remains of at least 30 female foetuses were pulled out of an abandoned well in Nayagarh in Orissa.
Even in a district where foeticide is shockingly common, people couldn't believe what they saw.
“We found skulls and bones in some biological waste. We have seized them and they have been sent for chemical examination,” said Superintendent of Police, Nayagarh, Rajesh Kumar.
The police team that found the foetuses was raiding hospitals in Nayagarh following a similar discovery nine days ago when a schoolboy discovered remains of seven female foetuses a few kilometres off Nayagarh.
The state government has now ordered an inquiry into the matter.
At 901 females to 1000 males, Nayagarh district has the worst sex ratio in Orissa. It's no coincidence that it also has over 12 private nursing homes and ultrasound clinics.
“We need to find out what goes in these ultrasound centers,” says Deputy Director Health (Nutrition) Santosh Kumar Mishra.
Two people working at one of the nursing homes have been arrested and several others have been detained.
Women's rights activists say the rot runs deep.
“Twelve nursing homes are running here. Only one out 11 clinics is licensed. How come any one from health department, politics, administration didn't know of this?” asked state president of AIDWA Tapasi Praharaj.
Meanwhile some nursing homes in the district have downed shutters of their own accord. Their owners are absconding.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
 |
 |
 |
|
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.