Pregnant woman given 'triple talaq'; seeks Yogi Adityanath's help

She said that her husband did so as he feared she is carrying a baby girl in her womb

A pregnant woman in Uttar Pradesh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alleging her husband had verbally divorced her by pronouncing a triple talaq.

The woman in her letter alleged that her husband did so as he feared she is carrying a baby girl in her womb, police said on Thursday.

Saharanpur police chief Love Kumar told IANS that the woman, Shugufta, registered a complaint against her husband, Shamshad and in-laws of Budhakheda village in the Uttar Pradesh district on Tuesday.

Shugufta was married to Shamshad five years ago and the couple has two four-year and 18-month old daughters.

She has written to Modi and Yogi Adityanath, seeking their intervention to save her daughters and yet-to-be-born baby, Kumar said.

"In her complaint, she has alleged that her husband feared she would give birth to one more baby girl. He wanted a baby boy and asked her to terminate the pregnancy. She refused and now, he has divorced her and kicked her out from home."

The police officer said Shamshad had pronounced talaq to her verbally thrice and divorced her -- a controversial Muslim practice in the sub-continent that has been debated and is being challenged in the Supreme Court.

The apex court is likely to take up the matter whether or not to ban the practice on May 11.

The officer said Shugufta has also named her brothers-in-law -- Naushad, Zaffar Ali, Illyas -- for pressurising her to abort the three-month-old foetus.

"She alleged she was beaten up by the in-laws," Kumar said, adding they had also been seeking dowry from her.

The officer said a case under sections of causing miscarriage without a woman's consent and subjecting woman to cruelty has been registered and police were awaiting a medical examination report of the woman.

"We have formed a special team to investigate the matter. But nobody has been arrested as yet."