Pune: 15-year-old gives birth alone, cuts umbilical cord; accused booked over marriage promise

Pune: In a disturbing incident reported from central Pune, a 15-year-old girl delivered a baby alone inside her home on January 31 and reportedly severed the umbilical cord without any assistance, police officials said.

According to officers attached to Samarth police station, the teenager was by herself when she went into labour. Later the same day, family members discovered the newborn after noticing blood stains inside the house. The infant was found placed near a window, officials added.

The episode came to light when the girl’s married elder sister visited the residence and saw blood marks on the kitchen floor. On searching further, she located the baby and confronted the minor, who admitted she had given birth earlier while no adult was present.

Police said the family initially chose not to inform authorities, fearing social stigma. However, the girl’s condition deteriorated by evening, prompting relatives to take both mother and child to a private hospital.

Due to the high cost of treatment, they briefly returned home but had to seek medical care again when her health worsened. The pair were subsequently admitted to another hospital in the Camp area.

During conversations with her sister, the minor disclosed that she had been in a relationship with a 24-year-old man for nearly a year. Investigators said the accused allegedly established physical relations with her in March 2025 after promising marriage, following which she became pregnant.

“Since the victim is a minor and the accused was aware of her age, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,” said Senior Police Inspector Jayant Rajurkar of Samarth police station.

The accused has been arrested and remanded to magistrate custody, police confirmed, adding that further investigation is underway. Officials also stated that both the girl and the newborn are currently in stable health.

Authorities said the mother and child have been produced before and handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for appropriate care and support.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the teenager had lost her father at a young age. After her mother remarried, she and her brother were living with an aunt, and the girl was often alone at home while other family members were at work, police said.