BATKHELA, Jan 26: A newborn boy went missing from the gynae ward of district headquarters hospital in Batkhela, Malakand, on Thursday.

Qasim Khan, a resident of Batkhela, told media persons that his wife gave birth to their first baby in district headquarters hospital on Wednesday night with a major operation and later she was shifted to the gynea ward.

He suspected that an unknown woman, present at the ward since Thursday morning, might have picked up the baby when the patient’s attendants went outside for offering afternoon prayer.

It was the first incident that a newborn went missing from the Batkhela hospital.

The incident deteriorated the condition of the ailing mother, who is said to be in coma. Other family members also started crying at the hospital when they knew that the baby was missing.

Soon after the incident, deputy commandant of Malakand Levies reached the hospital along with Levies personnel and cordoned off the area.

He also directed the law-enforcement agencies personnel at various checkposts to keep vigil on people passing through the exit points.

Members of vigilance committees in the region were also intimated about the incident, the deputy commandant said, hoping that the baby would be recovered soon.

The Levies lodged FIR against the unknown woman and started investigation.