Pregnant woman dies after UP cops ‘shove’ her, 6 suspended; baby critical - The Indian Express
A 28-year-old pregnant woman died after her husband was taken away by police from their home in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad for questioning in a robbery case, with her family alleging she was shoved when she tried to stop them.
Six policemen, including two sub-inspectors, have been suspended for negligence. Police also maintained that a preliminary inquiry found no evidence that any policeman misbehaved with or pushed the woman.
According to police, a theft had taken place at a grocery shop in Labhaua village on Friday night. During investigation, police suspected the involvement of two men, including Gaurav Kumar, from the village and a team from Shikohabad police station went to pick him up on Sunday night.
Gaurav’s elder brother, Vijay Singh, claimed, “Gaurav’s wife, Anjali Verma, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, folded her hands and pleaded with them not to take her husband away, citing her condition.”
Vijay alleged that she was pushed during a scuffle.
He added that he accompanied Gaurav to the police station to ask senior officials why he was being picked up, alleging that the shopkeeper had falsely named his brother in the case due to old enmity.
“In the meantime, Anjali’s condition worsened and was taken to a government hospital, where she gave birth to a baby boy on Monday morning. Her condition deteriorated and she was shifted to a private hospital… her haemoglobin levels dropped to 5… and she died during treatment,” Vijay said.
The newborn remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment, he added.
Gaurav, a videographer, and Anjali have another child, a boy aged 2.
Anjali’s death triggered protests in Labhaua village, with residents reaching the police station and demanding that a case be registered against the policemen involved. Villagers staged another protest on Tuesday.
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Superintendent of Police, Firozabad, Aditya Langhe suspended the six policemen and ordered an inquiry. He said action would be taken based on the inquiry report, adding that Gaurav was released the next day.
Langeh also said a preliminary inquiry found no evidence that any policeman misbehaved with or pushed Gaurav’s wife. He further said a post-mortem was conducted and no external injuries were found.
In a statement, the Firozabad Police said when Gaurav was brought from his home to the police station, neither his wife Anjali nor any other family member was assaulted by any police personnel.
“To ensure an impartial investigation, six police personnel have been suspended with immediate effect. The entire matter has been handed over to ASP Shikohabad, IPS officer Jaybind Kumar Gupta, for investigation,” the statement said.
Reacting to the incident, Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad slammed the government and said it raises serious questions about police functioning.
In a post on X, he wrote: “… Our demand is that the role of those responsible for the death of the pregnant woman be investigated, strict legal action be taken against the guilty policemen, and the victim’s family be given justice and appropriate financial assistance.”
