The Bhutanese Leading the way.
On 17th March, 2024 at around 9 am the North Thimphu Police Station (NTPS) received a complaint of the body of a dead baby being found near Rinchenling Home, Taba, Thimphu.
Upon receiving the complaint, the joint investigation team from NTPS and forensic team of JDWNRH proceeded to the scene.
The team observed that the dead corpse of the baby was a boy and was lying abandoned in the right-side position. The head and both hands were missing and the corpse was found to be fresh.
NTPS while interrogating a few Indian laborers who were residing nearby, learnt that early morning when they were heading to have tea from a nearby shop, they saw the corpse of the baby and informed the complainant.
The medical forensic team of JDWNRH, ascertained that the head and both hands were missing. Tear margins in the half abdomen area were associated with blood stains from animal bite and no other external injuries were visible on other parts of the body.
It is suspected that dogs also ate the head and hands of the baby.
For now, the dead corpse is being kept in the mortuary for detailed investigation by the forensic team.
The NTPS has checked CCTV footage around the area to find out movement of people and vehicles during the occurrence time and are finding out the list of females whose delivery due date falls in this month from the JDWNRH and the BHU.
Further, the team is coordinating with the emergency unit of JDWNRH, and is trying to find out any emergency case of excessive bleeding reported from the earlier days.
The mother who has abandoned the baby has not yet been caught, therefore, the case is still under investigation. The forensic team is also conducting detailed postmortem examination which will ascertain the exact time of death which will further help in the investigation.
RBP statistics revealed that last year there were 2 offences of abandonment of a dead infant and 3 offences of abandonment of an infant or a child. Also, in 2022 there were 4 offences of abandonment of a dead infant and 1 offence of abandonment of an infant or a child.
As per Penal code of Bhutan 2004, a defendant shall be guilty of the offence of abandonment of an infant or a child, if a defendant is a parent, guardian, or other person legally charged with the care or custody of an infant or a child and the defendant leaves the infant or child in any place with the intent to abandon the infant or child.
A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of homicide, if the abandonment of an infant or a child by the defendant results in death.
The offence of abandonment of an infant or a child shall be a misdemeanor.
Also, a defendant shall be guilty of the offence of abandonment of a dead infant, if the defendant leaves a dead corpse of an infant in any place or manner other than required by practice of disposal of such corpse.
The offence of abandonment of a dead infant shall be a petty misdemeanor.
Misdemeanors result in imprisonment for one year or more but less than three years whereas petty misdemeanors result in imprisonment for one month or more but less than one year.
