Baby Afreen's death reveals ugly face of urban India

Bangalore: Baby Afreen lost her battle for life in a Bangalore hospital on Wednesday. The three-month-old baby was simply unable to bear the brutal torture she suffered at the hands of her own father, all because she was born a girl.

The infant succumbed to a massive cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning. And now, her broken-hearted mother is demanding justice.

"He killed my baby. He should not be left free so easily, he should get punished," said Reshma Banu, mother of Baby Afreen.

The three-month-old baby, beaten up badly by her father, succumbed to a massive cardiac arrest on Wednesday.

Doctors say the baby was losing blood and had nearly four bouts of convulsions on Tuesday. The three-month-old baby was beaten up so badly by her father that despite medical attention, the infant's body just couldn't respond to treatment anymore.

"The baby was just three months old. Definitely, she could not fight the complications and infections and in spite of ventilator support, cardiac arrest happened," said Dr Shakunthala, resident medical officer, Vanivilas Hospital.

As for Baby Afreen's father, Umar Farooq, his judicial custody has been extended to April 21. Bangalore police say they'll be treating this as a case of murder now.

"We have already taken up case under section 307, attempt to murder. Now, because the child has died, we will change it to section 302 and it becomes a murder case," said Jyothi Prakash Mirji, Commissioner, Bangalore police.

First it was Baby Falak, and now Baby Afreen. This shows the ugly face of female infanticide in urban India.

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