In a harrowing incident in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun, Panna Lal, a resident of Civil Lines, was handed a life sentence for a gruesome act: slicing open his eight-month-pregnant wife's belly to ascertain the gender of their unborn child. This shocking incident occurred in September 2020 and underscored the deep-seated preference for male offspring in certain societal contexts.
The couple, already parents to five daughters, faced persistent tension due to Panna Lal's fervent desire for a son. His obsession with having a male heir led to continuous harassment of his wife, Anita, who bore the brunt of his dissatisfaction with their daughters.
Anita's family intervened, imploring Panna Lal to cease his mistreatment in hopes of salvaging the marital bond. However, his threats of divorce and remarriage to conceive a son persisted, exacerbating the already strained relationship.
During a heated argument over the gender of the unborn child, Panna Lal, in a fit of rage, resorted to a horrifying act of violence. He callously declared his intention to determine the baby's sex by tearing open Anita's abdomen, wielding a sickle to carry out his gruesome deed.
The vicious attack inflicted severe injuries on Anita, causing her intestines to protrude and resulting in a tragic miscarriage. She was rushed to a hospital in Bareilly in critical condition, where concerned relatives promptly lodged a complaint against Panna Lal.
In a swift legal proceeding, Judge Saurabh Saxena of the fast-track court delivered justice, sentencing Panna Lal to life imprisonment and imposing a hefty fine of Rs 50,000. Failure to pay the fine would entail an additional six months of incarceration, marking a firm stance against such abhorrent acts of violence and gender-based discrimination.
