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Had miscarriage due to medical negligence: Moradabad woman held under UP's 'love jihad' law ...

Source: , Posted On:   15 December 2020

Had miscarriage due to medical negligence: Moradabad woman held under UP's 'love jihad' law shares horror

The 22-year-old Moradabad woman, who was sent to a shelter home after her husband was arrested under the new "love jihad" law in Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday alleged that suffered a miscarriage due to medical negligence. She also said that she was tortured at Nari Niketan -- the protection home where she was sent.

Speaking to reporters, the woman alleged that staff at the protection home ignored her worsening condition and took her to a hospital, where an injection by a doctor caused her miscarriage.

"I was at Nari Niketan for five-six days during which I started experiencing stomach ache. They [Nari Niketan staff] ignored my stomach pain and when the condition didn't improve, I was taken to a hospital where doctors gave me medicines and injections due to which I suffered a miscarriage," the woman said.

Elaborating on the inhumane treatment meted out to her at Nari Niketan, the Moradabad woman said that the warden there scolded her when she complained about her health and didn't even give her medicines when she asked.

"The doctors knew about my miscarriage. An ultrasound check-up was also done. Initially, they said that the foetus is fine. Then they administered an injection following which my health deteriorated. I started bleeding and my condition turned quite serious," she added.

When asked if she suspects any foul play on part of police, doctors and district administration, the woman said, "Doctors are responsible for it because they gave me an injection. I can't say anything about anyone else. I don't know what medicine or injection I was given. I just had a stomach ache after which I was taken to the hospital. I don't know what was done to me there," she claimed.

Countering the woman's statement, the medical superintendent at the district hospital was quoted by ANI as saying, "She was given medicines to stop bleeding and pain. Ultrasound showed foetus but no heartbeat. TVS [transvaginal ultrasound] was advised and she was referred to Meerut. Her relatives wanted to take her in their private vehicle. All the allegations are false."

THE CASE

Earlier in December, police in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad arrested a man and his brother under the new anti-conversion law. The groom, identified as Rashid, was at the registrar's office in Kanth when he was handed over to the police by members of the fringe outfit Bajrang Dal.

Rashid had married a 22-year-old woman from Bijnore in Dehradun about five months ago. The two met in Dehradun where Rashid was working and the girl was studying.

After the first case of "love jihad" came to light, police, acting on a complaint, arrested Rashid, and booked him under the new anti-conversion law, while the woman was sent to a protection home. A few days later, several sections of media reported that the woman, who was shifted to a government shelter home, was forced into an abortion.

Later, officials of the Child Protection Commission in Moradabad clarified that the reports of a "forced abortion" of the 22-year-old woman were "fake" and said she did not suffer a miscarriage.

Speaking to India Today TV, Child Protection Commission Chairman Dr Vishesh Gupta said, "We deny the reports. We instructed the director of DPO, Moradabad to get the woman medically tested to know if she has been forced into abortion. The medical report clearly says that she is three-months pregnant. We have evidence."

However, the woman now alleges that she suffered a miscarriage due to medical negligence.

"WANT TO STAY WITH MY HUSBAND"

Meanwhile, the woman has also appealed to authorities to release her husband and her brother-in-law and expressed her wish to return to her in-laws' home.

When asked what she said during the court hearing, the woman said, "I told the court that want to go back to my in-laws. I want to stay with my husband. I requested them to release my husband and brother-in-law."

The woman maintained that she married the man of other religion of her own will. "At the court, I was asked if I knew the man [Rashid] and his religion. I said that I knew him and I married out of my own will," she said.

"I was studying in Dehradun for the past five years. I met Rashid there. I know him very well. I am happy with him. I'm not facing any problems," she said.

"I was heading towards Kanth Tehsil with papers of court marriage when Bajrang Dal workers caught me," the woman said.

She further said, "Yes, my mother was against my marriage but she didn't do anything. Bajrang Dal workers had called her after which a case was filed."

The woman's mother had earlier alleged that Rashid had forcibly converted her daughter through marriage. However, the woman told reporters, "I got married to Rashid on July 24. I have been living here in Kanth in Moradabad since then. I am an adult and got married to Rashid as per my wishes."

 

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