A 23-year-old pregnant woman in Chhattisgarh and her unborn child are dead after her husband subjected her to extreme physical violence. The incident took place in Bhittikala Semarghat village, under the jurisdiction of Manipur Police Station in Sarguja district. Police have since arrested the accused following a manhunt.
What happened
The accused, identified as Pradeep Agariya, allegedly assaulted his wife, Hirabai, and inserted a twelve-inch iron tool into her private parts. The injury caused severe internal bleeding. Hirabai did not survive. Her unborn child also died as a result.
Once the accused realised his wife had lost consciousness, he tied her to his motorcycle. He then drove her to Ambikapur Medical College Hospital.
Accused tried to cover his tracks
At the hospital, Pradeep told medical staff that Hirabai had been injured in a road accident. He fabricated the story in an apparent attempt to escape suspicion.
Doctors examined Hirabai and declared her brought dead. The moment they made the announcement, Pradeep fled the hospital. He did not stay to answer questions.
Family had already raised an alarm
The incident did not come out of nowhere. On May 15, Prasanna Agariya, Hirabai’s brother, a resident of Sakariya Kunni village, had filed a complaint at the Manipur Police Station. He reported that his sister had been physically attacked by her husband.
The complaint noted visible injuries on her head and face. Police registered the case and began investigating.
However, full picture of what Hirabai endured only emerged after post-mortem report was complete.
Post-mortem report exposed full horror
The forensic examination revealed extent of violence.
The findings drew comparisons to 2012 Nirbhaya case, given the nature of the assault. Outrage spread through the local community.
Recognising the gravity of the case, special joint team was formed under guidance of City Superintendent of Police Rahul Bansal. The team brought together personnel from Manipur Police Station and the Cyber Cell.
During initial questioning, Pradeep admitted to assaulting his wife. Police have taken him into custody. Thorough investigation is underway.
Authorities have stated that every effort will be in place to ensure of the strictest legal action. They are treating the case as a double homicide for the deaths of Hirabai and her unborn child.