Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Aug 5: In a new development in the baby Panchami case, the Kundapur police have arrested the youth who allegedly fathered the baby.
The accused, identified as Shashikumar (22), is a resident of Shetrakodi, Beloor in Sagar. He was arrested from Sagar on Monday August 4 and brought to Kundapur on Tuesday August 5.
The police have registered rape case against Shashi and subjected him to medical examination at the government hospital.
Sources said during primary interrogation, Shashi admitted to having fathered the child. He was produced in court on Monday and sent to judicial custody.
It is said that Shashi was in contact with the girl, a resident of Kudlu in Kanyana Guddeangadi, for the last two years. He came from Sagar to Kundapur with a friend and worked in a quarry at Byndoor. He developed friendship with the girl who worked at a cashew factory and reporteldy had sexual relationship with her. It is learnt that last November, after he came to know about the girl's pregnancy, he had a fight with her family and went absconding.
The girl, along with her mother, left the newborn in a jungle on July 31. Miraculously, the baby survived through heavy rain and hunger until she was found 30 hours later. She was later named Panchami.