Manpur resident Mano Devi and her relatives at Lady Elgin Hospital in Gaya on Wednesday. Mano’s newborn was allegedly stolen from the health hub. Picture by Suman.

Gaya, Oct. 19: A newborn was today stolen from Lady Elgin Hospital, triggering posers about the safety of patients in the health hub.

According to the complaint lodged at Civil Lines police station by one Shanichari Devi, her niece, Mano Devi, was admitted to the hospital last evening. She delivered a male child at 1am. A woman, who identified herself as an Association for Social Health and Advancement worker, offered her service to the mother and child. This morning, she went out of the ward with the infant and did not return.

Mano lives with her husband in the Manpur area of the town. She has another son.

When the hospital staff asked Mano to hand over the infant to them to take a photograph the baby could not be found on the hospital premises despite an extensive search..

Sources said Mano had opted for a family planning operation for which she would be paid Rs 1,600. However, it is essential to take a photograph of the baby before the operation.

After the complaint was lodged sub-inspector Abujar Hussain Ansari arrived at the hospital and started investigation. He said: “Investigations have started. But the hospital staff could not help us with any information. The woman who allegedly stole the baby has left behind her bag.”

The hospital superintendent in-charge, Satyendra Chaudhary, was unavailable for comment.

This is not the first instance of a child being stolen from the hospital.

Sources said around a year-and-a-half ago, another newborn was stolen from the hospital. The missing infant was, however, recovered then.