Battered baby dies of cardiac arrest

Three-month-old baby Afreen, allegedly battered and abused by her father for being born a girl, died at a hospital today after suffering a cardiac arrest.u00a0

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Afreen had convulsions at 10.00 am and later suffered a cardiac arrest, Dr Some Gowda, Resident Medical Superintendent of Vani Vilas Hospital, where the child was admitted two days ago said.u00a0

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The baby was in a semi-comatose state after her condition deteriorated today following two convulsions last evening.u00a0

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Afreen, who was on life support system, had hurried respiration of 30-40 per minute against the normal 20-25 and also Pathycardia (increased heart rate), Gowda said.u00a0

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Speaking to reporters, hospital authorities said Afreen was getting convulsions and bleeding which aggravated the cardiac arrest, leading to the baby's death at 11.10 am.u00a0

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Vani Vilas hospital had sought help from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) for Afreen's treatment.u00a0

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Her father Umar Farooq, who allegedly tortured the baby because he wanted a boy, is in judicial custody till April 21.u00a0

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He was arrested on April 8 on a complaint by Afreen's mother Reshma, who allegedly witnessed the abuse and wants the hardest punishment for him.u00a0

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Afreen was admitted to the paediatric intensive care in the hospital on Sunday.u00a0

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She had cigarette burns on her head and a dislocated neck. Police had said Farooq has confessed to having tried to kill his daughter as he did not want a girl baby.

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