Iqra case handled with kid gloves

Hyderabad: Mr Md. Jahangir Khan and his wife Ms Afreen consider themselves most unfortunate. Having remained childless for 12 years after marriage, failed adoption attempts led them to take desperate measures.

One year back, they met an extremely ill Ms Farheen Begum and her husband Mr Ilyas, who were unable to take care of their five-month-old baby girl.

The couple expressed their willingness to adopt the infant. Without waiting for approval from the concerned authorities, they brought the baby home after signing a bond paper with her biological parents. Now things have taken a dramatic turn as the infant’s mother, Ms Farheen, has approached the police to get her daughter back.

The new development has left the couple devastated. The infant, Iqra Begum, who is now one-and-half years old, considers Mr Jahangir and Ms Afreen as her parents.

A distressed Ms Afreen collapsed after hearing of police intervention in the matter and now is admitted in hospital. For the Golconda police, which received the complaint, the case is much more than a crime.

Considering the complexity of the case, it has decided not to take any legal action and has given preference to solve the issue through counseling. But the cops are also in an ethical dilemma as they are confused regarding who should get the custody of the child.

Officials says Iqra’s biological mother Ms Farheen is still extremely ill and not in a condition to look after an infant.

Also, no one from her family is ready to take care of Iqra. “We are not sure if Farheen can bring up the child as she is still suffering from chronic illness,” said Golconda inspector Mr Khaleel Pasha.    Ms Farheen, who approached the police on Saturday, collapsed hours after police took her complaint, cops said.  

Meanwhile Mr Jahangir, who is a cable operator, said that he would abide by the decision of the police. “My wife and I were childless for 12 years. Iqra’s arrival reinvented our lives and we were really happy for a year. When we took her, we did not know what procedures to follow. We went to a lawyer, who gave us some documents to sign and we were not aware that the legal adoption process was still not complete. Now it’s all in the hands of the police and we are ready to follow any legal procedures,” said Mr Jahangir, adding that it would be extremely painful to let go of the child. Iqra meanwhile is still with her adopted parents.

 

 

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