📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Litun Kumar
Crime
Keonjhar Police Probe Childbirth of Underage Girl in Odisha
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 31 Aug 2026, 09:37 AM
👁 25
Police in Keonjhar district, Odisha, have opened an investigation into a case where a minor girl gave birth, prompting legal and health scrutiny.
Keonjhar district police in Odisha announced on Tuesday that they are investigating a case in which a girl under the age of eighteen gave birth. The incident was reported to the local police station after the newborn was delivered at a private residence in the district town.
Investigators said the case will be examined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act and relevant child marriage statutes. The police are collecting statements from the mother, the attending midwife and neighbours to determine whether any adult was involved in facilitating the pregnancy.
A senior police spokesperson said the team has also coordinated with the district health department to ensure the mother and infant receive medical care. The authorities indicated that further action, including possible filing of criminal charges, will depend on the findings of the forensic and social welfare assessments.
The investigation underscores ongoing concerns about child marriage and illegal pregnancies in rural Odisha, prompting calls from NGOs for stricter enforcement of existing laws and increased community awareness.
Investigators said the case will be examined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act and relevant child marriage statutes. The police are collecting statements from the mother, the attending midwife and neighbours to determine whether any adult was involved in facilitating the pregnancy.
A senior police spokesperson said the team has also coordinated with the district health department to ensure the mother and infant receive medical care. The authorities indicated that further action, including possible filing of criminal charges, will depend on the findings of the forensic and social welfare assessments.
The investigation underscores ongoing concerns about child marriage and illegal pregnancies in rural Odisha, prompting calls from NGOs for stricter enforcement of existing laws and increased community awareness.