(1.) MISS Lulano Lotha, a Naga tribal girl, appeals from jail against her conviction for infanticide, concealment of birth and secret disposal of dead body, under Sections 302 and 318, I.P.C. and concurrent sentences of life imprisonment and two years S.I., respectively.
(2.) THE following facts transpire from evidence on record : On 9.9.1974 P.W. 5, D.S. Rawat, Officer -in -Charge North P.S., Kohima, received a telephonic information to the effect that there was a suspicious human placenta lying in the nallah located below Greenland Hotel and above the New Market, Kohima. He made G. D. entry No. 49 dated 9.9.1974 (not produced) and accompanied by ASI, R. Chaberliang, T.S.C. Japhohol Angami and Constable Sanicho Chahesang (None examined) went to the spot and discovered some material suspected to be human placenta, collected it from a Rallab behind the house of M/s. Videtsenuo Angami (P.W.) in a coloured plastic bag, and sent the same to the Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Kohima with a requisition slip (Ext. P.2). He continued to search the nearby area to recover the dead body of the child, if any or the mother and ultimately traced Miss Lulano Lotha (the appellant) on 11.9.1974 at Kohima town near one Khasi Hotel. On being questioned, the girl, according to P.W. 5, confessed that she gave birth to a child, killed it squeezing its neck and wrapped it with her half shirt and concealed it behind a bush, whereto she led the witness, who recovered the dead body in presence of Hazeto Angami (P.W. 1) and others. At 5 P.M. on 11.9.1974 he (P.W. 5) held inquest over the dead body, photographed it and sent the accused -appellant to hospital for medical examination with a requisition slip (Ext. P.2). He also challaned the dead body for post -mortem examination with a letter (Ext. P.5) soliciting report on specified points.
(3.) AFTERWARDS , he examined some other witnesses, arrested the accused -appellant and submitted a report (Ext. P.7) with F.I.R. No. 13 of 12.9.1974 (Ext. P -6) at 11.15 A.M.