Alleged Female Foeticide Racket Unearthed

Bengaluru: A female foeticide racket allegedly operating at SPG Hospital and Diagnostic Center in Hosakote, Bengaluru Rural District, has led to the booking of five individuals, including a doctor, two nurses, a housekeeper, and a lab technician.

The accused, working at the hospital for varying salaries, have been charged under the Prohibition of Sex Selection Act 1994, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 312 (voluntarily causing a woman with child to miscarry), 314 (intent to cause the miscarriage of a woman with a child resulting in death), and others.

The investigation reveals that the hospital conducted scans for approximately 1,500 pregnant women in the last year, raising concerns as the institution lacks details for around 400 of these cases regarding the delivery outcomes. The missing information leaves a pressing question of whether these women sought delivery services elsewhere or underwent abortions, emphasising the need for a thorough inquiry into the hospital's practices.

Following the shocking discovery of a female foetus in the hospital's dustbin, health department officials promptly seized SPG Hospital on Wednesday night. A case has been registered against the hospital and its staff at the Thirumalashettihalli Police Station.

This incident comes in the wake of a broader crackdown on female foeticide in the region, with over ten individuals, including doctors, being arrested in connection with a similar racket uncovered in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka in November. The seriousness of the matter prompted the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to take over the case earlier this month.

As the CID conducts its investigation into the broader context of female foeticide cases, the recent incident at SPG Hospital underscores the urgency of stringent measures to address such heinous practices and protect the well-being of women in our society.