Nurse Arrested Under Goondas Act for Illegal Sex Determination

In Dharmapuri, a trained nurse identified as Karpagam has been detained under the stringent Goondas Act. Karpagam has a prior record, having been imprisoned on two occasions for engaging in the illicit determination of foetal sex. The recent case involved Navaneedha, a woman seeking to ascertain the sex of her third pregnancy. Navaneedha had previously given birth to two daughters and sought the services of Pachayammal, a middlewoman, to find a clandestine sex determination service.

Karpagam performed an ultrasound at her residence in Mattanulahalli, confirming the foetus was female. Following this, an abortion was conducted. Tragically, the procedure was botched, resulting in severe bleeding and necessitating Navaneedha's admission to the hospital. The subsequent inquiry by the Adhiyaman Kottai police uncovered Karpagam's involvement and led to her arrest and the confiscation of equipment, including a blood pressure monitor.

The District Collector, V. Saravanan, approved the imposition of the Goondas Act on Karpagam, following a recommendation from SP Arun Kabilan. This action signifies a serious response to the nurse's repeated violations of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act 1994.