A suspected illegal abortion attempt at the house of a retired nurse at Koratagere in Tumakuru district turned fatal with a 25-year-old woman dying owing to complications.
Radhamani, mother of three girls, died late on Friday night at Vani Vilas Hospital in Bengaluru, but the incident came to light only on Sunday, with the police and district health officers intensifying their investigation into the suspected abortion.
Radhamani allegedly wanted to abort the four-and-a-half month-old foetus “out of fear” that she would give birth to another girl, said family members.
The Koratagere police, who have questioned family members, say that there was immense pressure on Radhamani to “deliver a boy”.
Radhamani’s husband, Ramaiah, works as a photo frame repairer and the couple resided at Kamarajanahalli in Koratagere taluk. Manjunath, a close relative of the victim, told The Hindu that Radhamani had undergone ultrasound a few days ago and doctors had only said that the baby was healthy. Family members insist that the sex of the foetus, which is illegal under Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, was not determined. However, Radhamani harbouring a strong suspicion that she was carrying a girl, decided to abort the foetus, the relative said.
On March 21, she got admitted to the taluk government hospital for abortion, but it was not carried out there. She then approached her relative, Manjula, a retired nurse, who convinced her to do the procedure at her home, Ramaiah said. The procedure, carried out painfully over two days, led to severe bleeding. She was eventually admitted to Vani Vilas Hospital, where she died.
On Sunday, several relatives gathered outside Manjula’s house, but she is said to be absconding.
Meanwhile, the Koratgere police have registered a complaint of unnatural death as the parents of the deceased have refused to file a complaint despite repeated requests.
Health Dept. to initiate inquiry
The case clearly points to illegal abortion being conducted and the Health department will initiate an inquiry, said District Health Officer, Rangaswamy. Sources in the department said that a sex determination test could have been conducted, leading to the dangerous abortion attempt at nearly 4.5 months of pregnancy.
Radhamani had not disclosed about her pregnancy to the local ASHA or ANM worker under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme, which takes care of pregnant women.
