US agency puts Indian couple's baby in foster care citing parental negligence

Baby Ashvid is the son of Ashish Pareek, an employee of Tata Consultancy Services and resident of Jersey City, and his wife Vidisha.

Vidisha delivered the baby in October. They have been living in the US since August.

According to the baby's family, he had apparently slipped from his mother's hand and hit his head on a TV stand before falling hard on the floor.

The local hospital, after the baby was diagnosed with serious internal injuries to his head, transferred  him to another hospital. Doctors from the second hospital reported the case to Department of Child Projection and Permanency (DCPP).

According to media reports, local authorities had said that the child suffered from 'Shaken Baby Syndrome’ and had not agreed with the parents’ version that the little boy had hurt himself when he fell off the bed while playing.

The New Jersey DCPP had said that the parents neglected to take proper care of their child.

The parents were not given permission to meet their son while in hospital.

After the recovery, the baby was handed over by child welfare officials to foster care.

The parents deny claims by US authorities that they had tried to harm the child.

The Indian Consulate in New York is in contact with authorities as well as the child’s parents but said legal procedures will have to be followed since it has gone to court but is hopeful that the case will resolved soon.

Ashish Parikh, the baby's father has sought External Affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj's help, according to media reports.

The child is recovering.