Aboobacker Siddique (center) did not let his wife breastfeed their newborn even after police intervened. ScreenshotKozhikode: Kozhikode district collector has ordered action against a man for preventing his wife from breastfeeding their new born until five calls for prayer are over after the child's birth.
In a Facebook post Thursday, collector Prasanth said, "No religion asks to starve a new born baby and that the youth who showed this cruelty and those who prompted him need treatment".
Aboobacker Siddique's wife had given birth to a baby boy at a hospital in Mukkam, about 30 km from here, around 2 pm Wednesday and the hospital authorities asked the mother to breastfeed her baby. However, Aboobacker prevented her from breast feeding saying the baby cannot be breastfed until five calls for prayer are over after the birth.
Accordingly, the baby was breastfed only in the noon Thursday. He did not yield to the doctors' request that the baby may suffer from diseases including epilepsy if not breastfed immediately after birth, stating that his eldest son was breastfed in the same way and nothing happened to him.
Later, Aboobacker signed the paper intimating that the hospital authorities were not responsible if anything happens to the baby. Official sources here said that the district collector had given directions to take action against the man.
Officials of Social Welfare Department visited the couple's house Thursday to inquire about the incident. Police said no case has been registered against Aboobacker as nobody, either his relatives or the hospital authorities, had lodged any complaint.
However, police said they were inquiring about the incident. He is summoned to be present Friday for inquiries, they said.
(With agency inputs)
