Narayan Mallick allegedly tried to slit the throat of a three-year old baby with a razor at Choudkulat village in Pattamundai police station jurisdiction yesterday.
The infant was taken to Kendrapara district headquarters hospital and then shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital Cuttack.
"Apparently the accused is mentally unstable. It may have been a case of gender discrimination," the sources said.
Doctors who attended on the baby said, "the baby is out of danger as the wounds are not deep. But she needs constant and specialised medical attention".