Father of 5 Sentenced to Life for Cutting Open Pregnant Wife’s Womb to Check Baby’s Gender

Father of 5 Sentenced to Life for Cutting Open Pregnant Wife’s Womb to Check Baby’s Gender – In a deeply tragic case, a father of five daughters has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a horrific incident where he used a sickle to cut open his eight-month-pregnant wife’s womb to check the baby’s gender.

Panna Lal, a 46-year-old resident of Badaun’s Civil Lines in Uttar Pradesh, India, had been married to Anita Devi for 25 years. Despite their long marriage, their relationship was marred by frequent disputes, primarily because Panna Lal desperately wanted a son. The couple had five daughters, and Panna’s obsession with having a male heir grew increasingly toxic over time.

Family members were aware of the couple’s tumultuous relationship and tried to intervene, urging Panna Lal to cease his abusive behavior. Despite their efforts, he continued to threaten Anita, even saying he would divorce her and marry another woman.

The fateful day arrived in September 2020 when a heated argument about the gender of their unborn child erupted once again. In a fit of rage, Panna Lal threatened to cut open Anita’s stomach to determine if she was carrying a boy or a girl. Terrified, Anita fought back, but Panna’s fury only intensified. He grabbed a sickle and attacked her viciously.

The cut was deep and brutal, leaving Anita’s intestines hanging from her stomach. Desperate and in excruciating pain, she ran out into the street, screaming for help. Her brother, Ravi Singh, who worked at a nearby shop, heard her cries and rushed to her aid. As he approached, Panna Lal fled the scene, leaving Anita bleeding and traumatized.

Anita was immediately taken to the hospital. While doctors managed to save her life, the trauma of the attack resulted in the loss of her unborn baby boy.

On May 23, 2024, the fast track court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Saurabh Saxena sentenced Panna Lal to life imprisonment. In court, Panna Lal claimed that Anita had inflicted the wounds on herself to frame him due to a property dispute with her brothers. However, the court found his arguments unconvincing, and the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to his guilt.

Anita’s brother, Ravi Singh, expressed relief at the sentencing but lamented the lasting impact on his sister’s life. “When Anita was pregnant for the sixth time, Panna wanted her to abort, convinced by a village priest that she was expecting another girl,” Ravi recalled. “But Anita was determined to keep the child. He often beat Anita, but we never thought he would take such an extreme step. We are happy he got this punishment, but sadly, my sister is not yet live a normal life.”