Pregnant dalit woman dies after cop kicks her during husband's arrest; 6 suspended

The dalit woman's family alleged that a cop kicked her during her husband's arrest in a theft case in Firozabad, after which her condition worsened and she died following childbirth, while her newborn remains critical. Six police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were suspended.

In Short

• Family alleged Anjali was kicked when she tried stopping her husband's arrest
• She later delivered a baby boy before her health sharply worsened
• Doctors at a private Firozabad hospital declared the 28-year-old woman dead

A 28-year-old pregnant dalit woman died after allegedly being kicked in the abdomen by police personnel who had arrived at her home in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad to arrest her husband in a theft case, police said. Six personnel, including two sub-inspectors, have been suspended following the incident.

According to the woman’s family, Sub-Inspector Dharmpal Singh arrived at Gaurav’s house in Labhaua village, under the Shikohabad area, with a police team around 11.45 pm on Sunday.

The family alleged that Anjali pleaded with the police not to take her husband, but Singh kicked her in the abdomen, causing her to fall.

The police took Gaurav, 32, away from the house, following which Anjali’s condition deteriorated. She was taken to a hospital in Shikohabad, where she delivered a baby boy on Monday morning, the family said.

Her condition worsened after the delivery and she was subsequently shifted to a private hospital in Firozabad. Doctors there declared her dead, according to the family.

The newborn was also reported to be in critical condition and was referred to a hospital in Agra for further treatment.

Following Anjali’s death, villagers gathered at the police station and protested, questioning the alleged police action. The family said Gaurav was released after police were informed about his wife’s death.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Ravi Shankar Prasad said Superintendent of Police Aditya Langhe suspended Sub-Inspectors Dharmpal Singh and Satyapal Singh, Head Constables Mohan Singh and Arvind Kumar and Constables Bhavtosh Kumar and Kuldeep Kumar with immediate effect for negligence.

Anjali’s post-mortem examination was conducted late Monday night and her last rites were performed the same night, officials said. A heavy police deployment was made during the proceedings.

After being informed about the incident, Samajwadi Party national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ramjilal Suman reached Firozabad on Tuesday and met the family of the deceased. He later spoke to the ADG Agra Zone over the phone and demanded an impartial investigation and strict action against those found responsible.

The SP MP then reached the Shikohabad police station with party workers and staged a sit-in. He alleged that police had detained two youths on suspicion of theft, one of whom was Anjali’s husband, Gaurav.

Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad also questioned the incident in a social media post and called for a fair probe and action against the guilty police personnel.

- Ends