Little Kumaraswamy, ‘the government’s baby’

Abandoned baby gets a new lease of life as woman police constable tends to his needs

From being abandoned by his parents to becoming a representative of sorts for the new government — little Kumaraswamy, named after the new Chief Minister, is too young to comprehend the long journey he has already taken in such a short time.

The newborn was rescued by the Electronics City police, and found the warmth of a mother in a woman police constable, who breastfed him and saved him from starvation.

It was on Friday morning that a rag picker noticed a newborn child stuffed in a plastic bag under a bush near a house under construction in Celebrity Layout, Doddathoguru.

He alerted the shopkeeper nearby, who in turn informed the police control room. Assistant Sub-Inspector Nagesh R. arrived at the scene and rescued the baby. By then, a large crowd had gathered at the spot.

“The baby was in bad shape. He was covered in blood and the umbilical chord was wrapped around his neck,” recalled Mr. Nagesh, who took the baby to a nearby hospital, where doctors treated him free of cost.

Soon after, Mr. Nagesh brought the baby to the station, and handed him over to police constable Archana, mother of a three-month-old boy herself. As the baby was weak and was motionless, Ms. Archana’s heart went out to him. She picked up the baby and breastfed him. In a few seconds, the baby gave a gusty cry.

There was jubilation in the station. Mr. Nagesh ran out to buy clothes for the baby, who was then named Kumaraswamy. “It is the government’s baby now, and we decided to name him Kumaraswamy as it would be under the care of the government,” Mr. Nagesh told The Hindu .

The baby was handed over to the Shishu Mandir on Hosur Road.