A pregnant woman in India is in critical condition after being set on fire by her own family in what appears to be an honor killing. The shocking incident took place in the forests of Hapur’s Bahadurgarh area on Thursday evening. According to reports, the woman, who is just 19 years old and six months pregnant, suffered over 80% burns after her mother and brother attacked her. Her brother first slit her throat with a blade before dousing her body in petrol and setting her on fire.
Local villagers who heard her cries for help rushed to the scene and immediately took her to a nearby hospital in Hapur. However, due to the severity of her injuries, she was later transferred to a higher medical center in Meerut where she is currently in critical condition. The incident was reported to the authorities by a villager who works as a watchman.
The woman’s brother and mother have been arrested and an FIR has been registered against them under the charge of attempted murder. During questioning, they confessed to the crime, stating that they couldn’t accept their unmarried daughter being pregnant. The woman was reportedly in a relationship with a local villager, and her family had repeatedly warned her about the consequences.
What makes this case even more distressing is the fact that the woman’s father, a farmer, has yet to visit her at the hospital. A female police constable is currently attending to her at the Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial (LLRM) Medical College in Meerut. Doctors have described her condition as very serious, and if she does not stabilize, she may be referred to a hospital in Delhi.
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, the head of the burn unit at the LLRM medical college, stated that the woman has sustained burn injuries all over her body and is currently receiving treatment in the ICU trauma center. She is currently on a ventilator to assist with her breathing.
This horrifying incident highlights the deeply rooted issue of honor killings in certain parts of India, where families resort to extreme measures to maintain their perceived honor. While the woman’s family took drastic action, it is important to remember that honor killings do not reflect the values or beliefs of the broader Indian society. Authorities must ensure that justice is served in this case, and steps need to be taken to address and eradicate this heinous practice.
