Malda, March 14: A 25-year-old woman has alleged that her newborn was stolen moments after she was discharged from the district hospital here on March 12.

The woman’s husband, Shib Hansda, filed an FIR with the Englishbazar police station yesterday. In his complaint, Shib said his wife Dhani Tudu had been approached by a woman, who offered to hold the baby since she looked tired. Dhani walked ahead believing that the woman was following her with the baby. Soon, Dhani realised that the woman had fled with the boy.

The couple have alleged that hospital staff, too, were involved. “Otherwise, why would they tell my wife to go home, instead of helping her locate the child, when she began crying,” said Shib.

The CMOH said Dhani had given birth to a boy on March 6. Police chief Satyajit Bandyopadhyay said an identikit of the woman would be drawn based on Dhani’s description.