In a troubling development, illegal practices of female fetus detection and abortion have reemerged in Mandya district. This follows a major case earlier this year involving the Pandavapura Government Health Quarters. The latest incident took place at a farmhouse in Mavinakere village, Nagamangala taluk, where authorities discovered an abortion kit and a scanning machine used for detecting and aborting female fetuses.
The raid, conducted late Thursday night by District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Mohan and his team, also revealed a pregnant woman from Hassan district, brought to the farmhouse for this purpose. This was her third pregnancy, and she had come to abort a female fetus.
Three individuals have been arrested in connection with this case: Manohar (42), the woman’s husband; Nagamani (38), a housekeeper; and Dhananjaya (62), the farmhouse owner. The main suspect, Abhishek, who conducted the illegal scans, is still at large. Authorities have initiated a manhunt for his capture.
DHO Dr. Mohan stated, “Acting on specific information, we, along with the police, raided the farmhouse at midnight.” The Bellur police sub-inspector confirmed that the arrests were made under relevant sections of the BNS Act and the KPME Act. The investigation is ongoing to apprehend Abhishek.
This incident is a stark reminder of Mandya’s ongoing struggle with illegal sex determination practices. Earlier this year, similar activities at an almshouse and health quarters led to widespread outrage and multiple arrests. The latest case highlights the persistence of this illegal practice and the need for continued vigilance.