Jagannathprasad: In a heart-wrenching incident, a woman abandoned by her husband delivered a baby boy in a village street in full public view. More distressing is that no one came forward to help her Saturday although hundreds of women, including her family members, were watching the ‘spectacle’.
The woman has been identified as Laxmi Naik, daughter of Sukuru Naik, of Karadabani village under this block in Ganjam district. According to sources, Laxmi was married to Jaga Naik of Kantiolo in Nayagarh district six years ago. Everything had been going on well, until Laxmi became the mother of two children. Jaga began to drink and used to assault Laxmi over petty issues and torture her physically and mentally. Finally, he forced her to leave his house. Laxmi went to her parents’ home along with her toddler daughter while leaving behind their elder child with Naik.
However, there was no end to her torture. Back home, Laxmi’s step-mother did not accept her and threw her out of the house. Left with no option, Laxmi took shelter in a cowshed near her house. Keeping in mind, the safety of her daughter she handed over her little girl to a relative while she did petty jobs in the village for a living.
Taking advantage of her helpless condition, Suresh Naik of the same village lured her into a relationship on the pretext of taking care of her and her minor daughter. However, he also threw her out of his house after impregnating her.
Since then, Laxmi moved from door to door and begged for a living. School verandas and isolated places were her only source of shelter while she survived on whatever locals had given her out of sympathy.
On Saturday, she started getting labour pains. With no one to take care of her, she delivered on the village street in front of hundreds of villagers, including women. Later, moved by her plight, an ASHA worker took her to the local community health centre (CHC). The mother and newborn are said to be normal after treatment. When contacted, police said a case has been registered against Suresh and an investigation is on. PNN
