Poverty forces mother to throw toddler into river, locals rescue child in Bengal

A poverty-stricken mother in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri allegedly attempted to drown her one-and-a-half-year-old son in the Teesta River. The child was rescued just in time by three locals who witnessed the act and intervened, risking their own safety.

The mother, Seema Bawali, was reportedly overwhelmed by desperation after days of going without food. Her husband, Bipul Bawali, a carpenter and daily wage worker, had been unable to find work for weeks due to heavy rains in North Bengal.

As the family's food supplies ran out, the cries of their hungry child reportedly pushed Seema to a breaking point. According to witnesses, she took her son to the river and threw him in, intending, as she later claimed, to scare him - not to kill him.

Two teenage girls, Pallavi Kirtania and Mallika Pal, along with a local woman, Vishuka Pattadar, saw the incident unfold and immediately jumped into the river to save the child. Fighting against the strong currents, they successfully pulled him out of the water.

When Seema tried to snatch the child back, allegedly attempting to finish what she had started, area residents intervened. Police soon arrived on the scene, calming tensions and recording statements from those involved.

Seema, in tears, later told locals, "There is a shortage of food in the house. There is no milk for the baby to drink. He has been crying since morning. I couldn’t raise him properly. That is why I wanted to throw him into the river.”

Her husband, Bipul, recounted his helplessness, “I had just gone out looking for work when I got the news. The rice I bought with the money I earned a few days ago is also finished.”

The Bawalis also have a three-year-old daughter. According to family members, including Bipul’s elder brother Palash, the couple had been struggling silently. While there had been arguments between them, no one had anticipated such a tragic turn.

The incident has sparked outrage and sorrow in the local community. Panchayat member Shiuli Kirtania said the residents were initially agitated, but the situation was brought under control with the arrival of the police.

Subal Ghosh, inspector-in-charge of Maynaguri Police Station, said officers had visited the family and would speak with local panchayat authorities regarding the family’s situation.

- Ends