The seven-month-old baby of a homeless couple was allegedly raped in Kolkata, police said on Wednesday.

A person spotted the baby on the footpath near a public toilet at Beadon Street on Friday. He approached police, who took the baby to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where she is under treatment.

According to the report of Burtolla Police Station, “On 30/11/24 at about 01:45hrs local residents informed police that a baby was crying on the footpath. Accordingly, local police rushed to the spot and found a minor baby in front of said premises. In the meantime, two footpath dwellers reported their missing 7-month-old girl child to local police. They identified the minor as their daughter.”

A police officer told PTI that doctors at RG Kar were shocked to see the injury marks near the baby's private parts.

“There were several scratch marks on her body as well, indicating sexual molestation,” the officer was quoted as saying.

“Initial investigation revealed that the baby was picked up from the footpath, taken somewhere and raped. It could be the work of some vagabonds. After the crime was committed, she was abandoned. We are checking the CCTV footage and also talking to the people of the area,” the officer added.

A doctor from RG Kar said: “The baby was initially treated at the gynaecological ward and then shifted to paediatric Intensive Care Unit.”

According to the hospital sources, the baby is stable.

The police have registered a case under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita’s sections 137 (2), 65 (2) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act Act.

(Special inputs from Jaismita Alexander)