Gurgaon: A 17-week pregnant woman developed severe complications after an illegal abortion at an unauthorised clinic in Rewari, prompting a probe into female foeticide and sex determination practices. A joint team of health department, police and drug control authorities raided a clinic in Chilhad and arrested Sukhbir Singh Yadav, who is accused of illegally operating a medical facility equipped with an operation theatre and equipment used for abortion.An FIR was registered at Rewari Sadar police station under provisions of BNS, Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and Indian Medical Council Act. According to the FIR, the woman, identified as Priyanka, was around 17 weeks pregnant and has two daughters. Health officials said her family approached the accused for termination of pregnancy after a sex determination test.Officials said Priyanka was initially given medicines and was later taken to the clinic, where the abortion was allegedly carried out. Her condition worsened during the procedure, after which she was shifted to Jeevan Jyoti Hospital in Rewari and later referred to another hospital in Jaipur. Officials said she remains on ventilator support.The complaint was filed by Dr Vidya Sagar, deputy civil surgeon and nodal officer for PCPNDT and MTP, after hospital authorities alerted the health department about the woman’s critical condition.“We are investigating the case further. The accused has been sent to judicial custody. The family is in Jaipur at present with the woman who is on ventilator,” Dr Sagar told TOI, adding, “It is a case of termination of foetus.”During the raid, conducted around 5.30pm on Tuesday, officials found a facility operating with an operation table, surgical instruments and medicines. Investigators seized several items.Officials said the clinic was not authorised to conduct medical procedures. The health department is also examining if provisions of PCPNDT Act related to sex determination should be invoked during the investigation.The case has renewed concern over Haryana’s declining sex ratio at birth (SRB). Despite enforcement measures launched by the state govt last year to curb suspected gender selection and female foeticide, SRB for the first four months of this year fell to 895 from 925 last year, prompting another govt review.Statements of the woman’s family members have been recorded, and further investigation is underway to identify others who may have been involved in the racket.
