TULUNGAGUNG – An abandoned baby found alive inside a cardboard box shocked residents of Demuk Village in Tulungagung after locals discovered the infant in a rice field during the early hours of Thursday.
The baby boy survived despite exposure to cold nighttime weather in the rural area of Pucanglaban District. Residents quickly rushed him to a nearby health center after hearing him cry.
Police said a local scavenger named Juli first spotted the suspicious cardboard box while searching for recyclable items around 11 p.m. on Wednesday. He was walking along a quiet road connecting hamlets near the Demuk Village office.
Pucanglaban Police Chief AKP Tarmadi said the man noticed the box near a pecel food stall under a large banyan tree in the middle of the rice fields.
“He became suspicious after seeing a cardboard box lying in the dark area,” Tarmadi explained.
Juli then used a flashlight to inspect the box and found a baby wrapped in a simple cloth inside. Shocked by the discovery, he immediately called nearby residents for help.
“After finding the baby inside the box, the witness informed local residents and checked the location together with them,” Tarmadi added.
Residents later touched the infant and heard him cry. They immediately evacuated the baby to the Pucanglaban Community Health Center for emergency medical treatment.
Village officials reported the incident to police around 1 a.m. Officers from the Pucanglaban criminal investigation unit quickly arrived at the scene to secure evidence and begin an investigation.
Police also checked the baby’s condition at the health facility while investigators examined the rice field area for clues connected to the abandonment case.
Tulungagung Police spokesperson Iptu Nanang Murdiyanto said the baby remains under intensive care at the local health center. Medical staff continue to monitor his condition closely.
“Overall, his physical condition remains stable and continues to improve,” Nanang said.
Authorities have now launched a broader investigation to identify the infant’s biological parents. Police are coordinating with village midwives, auxiliary health clinics, and maternity centers across the former Kediri residency area.
Investigators are reviewing reports of unusual or suspicious childbirth cases recorded within the last 24 hours. Officers hope the data will help trace the person responsible for abandoning the newborn.
“Police continue to investigate the case thoroughly to identify the individuals who abandoned the baby in the rice field,” Nanang stated.
The case has drawn strong public attention in Tulungagung, with many residents expressing relief that the baby survived the incident.