In India, gender bias continues to plague rural areas, where many families still prefer having boys over girls. This bias often leads to extreme measures, endangering the lives of women. Such a tragic incident occurred recently in Indapur, Pune, where a 24-year-old mother lost her life due to an illegal abortion performed by a private doctor in the house. The fetus was only four months old when it was illegally removed and buried in a nearby farm.
The abortion was arranged by the woman's husband, father-in-law, and with the mother-in-law as an accomplice. They resorted to this desperate measure after discovering the fetus was female, a fact they were not supposed to know, as gender determination is illegal in India. The family, however, acted on this information, leading to a fatal chain of events.
On Sunday, the woman's condition worsened due to heavy bleeding. She was taken to the hospital the next dav but died en route
Police Officer
The woman had been married in 2017 and already had two children before this pregnancy. The family's preference for a male child was so strong that they risked her life in an attempt to terminate the pregnancy. The illegal abortion was performed in secrecy at home, with the fetus buried to cover up the crime.
The day following the procedure, the woman began to bleed heavily. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she tragically passed away on the way. Her death is a chilling reminder of the dangerous consequences of illegal abortions and the deep-rooted gender bias that continues to haunt many rural communities.
The woman's brother filed a complaint against the husband and in-laws. Consequently, the husband and father-in-law were arrested, and a case was registered at the Indapur police station under Pune Rural Police. The family was charged under sections 91, 90, and 85 of the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act (BNHRA).
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)
