UP man slits open wife’s womb to check baby's gender, gets life imprisonment

BAREILLY: The fast track court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Saurabh Saxena, on Thursday, awarded life imprisonment to a man who had slit his 8-month pregnant wife’s womb to check the baby’s gender. The incident was reported in Civil Lines area of Budaun on September 19, 2020 when Panna Lal (46) attacked his wife Anita Devi with a sickle after being advised by a priest that his wife was expecting another girl child.
Anita was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi by Budaun police where doctors managed to save her life. However, the baby boy couldn’t survive the assault.
Panna Lal was booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent) of IPC and sent to jail. A chargesheet was filed in 2021.
Anita’s brother Ravi Singh told TOI, “Anita was married to Panna nearly 25 years ago. She gave birth to five daughters but Panna wanted a boy. When my sister was pregnant for the sixth time, Panna wanted her to abort as he was convinced by a village priest that Anita was expecting another girl. But Anita was adamant on keeping the child. He’d often beat Anita but we never thought he’d take such an extreme step. We’re happy he got this punishment. Sadly, my sister is not yet able to live a normal life.”
Public prosecutor Atul Singh told TOI, "The accused initially denied committing the crime, saying it was an accident. However, evidence produced by us in court and the wife’s statement proved sufficient to convict him. The court awarded him maximum punishment (life imprisonment) for the crime committed under section 307 (attempt to murder) considering the fact the crime was not committed against the individual victim but also against the society. The court observed the accused didn't have any fear of the law and slapped a cash fine of Rs 50,000 on him."