Gender determination is banned in India. However, many hospitals illegally tell parents the gender of the unborn child. Appropriate authorities are taking legal action against the hospitals involved in such illegal activities.
In Uttar Pradesh, a cruel husband is cutting open his 8-month pregnant wife’s stomach to check the gender of the unborn child. A fast-track court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Saurabh Saxena sentenced the man to life imprisonment on Thursday.
On September 19, 2020, Banna Lal (46) in the Civil Lines area of Bhutan is doing this after a priest told his wife that she will give birth to a girl again. The couple already has 5 daughters. It is said that as the priest said that he would give birth to a girl again, his wife Anita Devi tore open her stomach with a sickle to confirm it.
Following the incident, Anita was admitted to the Saptarjung Hospital in Delhi by the Budan Police. There the doctors saved his life. However, the male child in the womb died when the husband cut the stomach. Accordingly, Panna Lal was booked under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 313 (causing abortion without the woman’s consent) and imprisoned. A charge sheet was filed in 2021.
Talking about the incident, Anita’s brother Ravi Singh said, “Anita got married to Panna almost 25 years ago. She gave birth to five daughters.. but Panna wanted a son. When my sister was pregnant for the sixth time, Panna insisted that Anitha get an abortion because she believed the village priest who told her that Anita would have a girl again.
But Anita was adamant about having the baby. He often beats Anita.. but we never thought that he would take such a drastic step. We are happy that he got this sentence. “Unfortunately, my sister will no longer be able to lead a normal life.”
The case is currently under investigation. Accordingly, the evidence submitted to the court and Anita’s confession have secured the conviction of Panna. The court awarded him life imprisonment as the maximum sentence. The court found that co-accused Banna had no fear of the law. Accordingly, Rs. 50,000 fine was imposed by the court.
