An Indian man who has 5 daughters, allegedly slit open his pregnant wife’s stomach in a bid to confirm the gender of the baby out of desperation for a male child.
The 43 year old man, identified as Pannalal, attacked his pregnant wife, Anita Devi with a sickle on Saturday night, Sept 19 at their home in Budaun in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, leaving her in a pool of blood.
Anita’s family told investigators that the husband attacked and sliced open her stomach to check the gender of the child.
Anita’s younger brother, Ravi Kumar said, “My brother-in-law used to beat up my sister often for giving birth to five daughters. Even my parents tried to resolve the problem, but no one had ever imagined that he would take such a cruel step.”
According to Time of India.com, Anita has been admitted to Safdarjung hospital with the help of the police. Fortunately, the baby in the womb is unhurt but Anita’s condition has declined due to severe damage and excessive bleeding from the attack.
The Civil Lines Police Station SHO, Sudhakar Pandey confirming the attack said the man got into an altercation with his wife who is about six to seven months pregnant over fear that the next child would also be a girl.
“A priest had predicted that their sixth child would also be a girl. Pannalal then attacked Anita with a sickle on her abdomen to kill the fetus after she refused to have an abortion.”
However, Pannalal said he did not intentionally hurt his wife as he is a father of 5 daughters and his action was a mistake.
He told local media that he threw the sickle at her but had no idea it would injure her so severely.
“I have five daughters, one of my sons is dead. I know that children are the gift of God. Now whatever is to happen, will happen.”
Meanwhile, he has been detained by the police.
