In a shocking incident from Uttar Pradeshs Budaun district, a man named Panna Lal was sentenced to life imprisonment for using a sickle to cut open his pregnant wifes womb in a gruesome attempt to determine the gender of their unborn child. The incident, which occurred in September 2020, has left a lasting scar on the victim, Anita, and her family.Dispute Over Gender and Family PressurePanna Lal, a resident of Budauns Civil Lines, and Anita had been married for 22 years and were parents to five daughters. The couples strained relationship stemmed from Lals desire for a son, leading to frequent arguments between them. Despite efforts from Anitas family to mediate and resolve the dispute, Lal remained adamant about his wish for a male heir, even threatening divorce and remarriage to achieve his goal.Tragic Turn of EventsOn the fateful day of the incident, tensions escalated once again as the couple argued over the gender of their unborn child. Lal, fueled by rage, made horrifying threats to his wife, including the act of cutting open her womb to ascertain the babys sex. When Anita resisted and attempted to defend herself, Lal resorted to violence, brandishing a sickle and menacingly warning to kill her.Brutal Attack and EscapeIn a fit of brutality, Panna Lal carried out his threat by using the sickle to slash open Anitas womb, despite her being eight months pregnant. The attack left her with severe injuries, with her intestines exposed from the deep cut. Despite the agony, Anita managed to escape to the street, where her cries for help were heard by her brother, who rushed to her aid. Lal, upon seeing Anitas brother, fled from the scene.Aftermath and Legal ProceedingsAnita was rushed to the hospital following the savage assault. While she survived the traumatic ordeal, tragically, her unborn child, a boy, could not be saved. During the court proceedings, Panna Lal attempted to shift blame by alleging that Anita had inflicted the wounds on herself to frame him falsely, citing an ongoing property dispute with her brothers. However, the evidence and Anitas testimony were compelling, leading to the courts decision to award Lal with life imprisonment for his heinous act of violence.
