Jharkhand: Woman dies during abortion after alleged foetal sex determination; husband and diagnostic centre operator arrested

A woman in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad died following an allegedly botched abortion after a prenatal sex determination test, prompting police to arrest her husband and the operator of a diagnostic centre.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the illegal practice of foetal sex determination and gender-based abortions.

The deceased, identified as Kiran Kumari, was three to four months pregnant. Her family has alleged that her husband arranged for a sex determination test and pressured her into terminating the pregnancy after learning that the foetus was female.

Prenatal sex determination and gender selection are prohibited in India under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994.

Husband, diagnostic centre operator arrested

Police have arrested Kiran’s husband, Sonu Kewat, and Sachin Kewat, the operator of Central Diagnostic Centre at Shyamdih Chowk, in connection with the incident. The diagnostic centre has also been sealed.

According to the woman’s family, Kiran and her husband already had a daughter. Following her second pregnancy, the husband allegedly arranged for a prenatal sex determination test.

The family claims that after discovering the foetus was female, he pressured Kiran to undergo an illegal abortion.

Kiran’s brother, Chandrika Kumar, said the woman was between three and four months pregnant at the time of the incident.

The family has alleged that the abortion procedure led to excessive bleeding, causing Kiran’s condition to deteriorate rapidly. She was subsequently rushed to Sanjeevani Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Family protests at hospital, demands strict action

Kiran’s death triggered protests by her family members at the hospital premises, where they demanded strict legal action against those responsible.

The family also alleged that doctors and adequate medical assistance were not available in time at the hospital.

The circumstances surrounding the abortion and the woman’s subsequent death are being investigated by the police.

Police probe underway, FSL team called in

Katras Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ajit Kumar Vimal confirmed the incident, stating that a police team reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched an investigation.

According to preliminary findings, the woman’s death appears to have resulted from an improperly conducted abortion and severe blood loss.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has also been called in to carry out scientific and technical examinations of all aspects of the case.

The investigation is underway.

(with IANS inputs)