A heart-wrenching incident unfolded at a private maternity clinic in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, India, when a father reportedly slammed his 2-day-old baby girl on the floor, causing instant death. The man, identified as 32-year-old farmer Mohammad Farhan, had expressed disappointment over not having a son. According to a police complaint filed by his wife, 28-year-old Shabbo Beghum, Farhan had a history of cursing and physically abusing her for giving birth to two daughters in the past.
Beghum recounted the horrifying incident, stating, “After I gave birth to another girl child on Monday, my husband took the infant on his lap and then hurled her on the floor on Wednesday. The baby died.” Beghum further revealed that when she informed her husband about the baby’s health issues and the doctors’ recommendation to transfer her to a better medical facility, he refused.
The family resided in Sirsa village, falling under the jurisdiction of the Puranpur Kotwali police station. Beghum informed the authorities that during her pregnancy, her husband had repeatedly struck her abdomen and threatened her with divorce if the child wasn’t a boy, referring to the practice of “talaq” in the Islamic faith. Talaq allows a husband to dissolve a marriage by verbally repudiating his wife.
Despite Begum and her mother’s testimonies, no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed, and she claims that the police are pressuring her to settle the matter with her husband. The station house officer (SHO) of the Puranpur Kotwali police station stated that the couple had reached an amicable resolution, but Beghum contradicted this assertion, expressing her desire for her husband to face punishment.
Circle Officer Sunil Dutt has promised a thorough investigation into the matter, including allegations against the SHO. Dutt stated, “I will look into the matter and probe the allegations leveled against the SHO. If the victim wants an FIR registered, it will be lodged.”
The distressing incident highlights the concerning rise in violence against women and children in India. According to data from the Indian National Crime Records Bureau, cases related to crimes against women have increased by 26.35% from 2016 to 2021. Uttar Pradesh, with over 56,000 recorded cases, has the highest incidence of violence against women and children.
