The Indian Express publication reports that he and other villagers uncovered the child, who was showing shallow breathing and had been attacked by termite or ant bites.

The infant, estimated to be around 10–15 days old, was immediately rushed to Shahjahanpur Medical College (and referred via the local health centre) for emergency care. According to Dr Rajesh Kumar, Principal of the medical college, the baby was in critical condition, placed in the neonatal ICU and under close monitoring. He noted that one hand bore bites and injuries apparently from insects and exposure.

Investigators from the local police, led by SHO Gaurav Tyagi of the Jaitipur station, said early evidence suggests the act may be linked to longstanding societal preferences against girls in some regions. “We are collecting CCTV footage, speaking to women who recently gave birth in the area and working to identify those responsible,” Tyagi said.

At this stage, no formal FIR has been filed, and the child’s parents are yet untraced. The case has raised urgent questions about gender-based violence and infanticide in rural India, underscoring the deep-rooted biases that still endanger newborn girls.