A 36-year-old woman and her newborn child died in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Tuesday after an attempt to deliver the baby using acupuncture treatment at a rented house.
As the shocking incident came to light, her husband Nayaz, a sound system worker, was arrested by the Nemom police on Wednesday morning, local media reported.
According to the police, it was Shemeera Beevi’s fourth delivery, and she had not consulted a doctor in the nine months of her pregnancy.
Her three children were delivered through caesarean section.
The couple allegedly sought the help of an acupuncturist instead of a medical doctor, and the practitioner regularly visited their rented house in Karakkamandapam for consultations, a police officer said.
The woman developed some complications on Tuesday, and she was finally taken to a private hospital in the evening where she and the baby were declared dead by doctors.
As news about the deaths emerged, the local Councillor, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and neighbours came out against Nayaz, accusing him of not allowing his wife to consult a doctor and seeking proper medical treatment.
Ward Councillor Deepika U said Nayaz had not allowed ASHA workers to enter their house or talk to her.
“The family did not permit us to enter their house or share any other details. One day, we somehow managed to enter the house and spoke to her. Then we came to know that it was her fourth pregnancy,” said the councillor.
“As per the details shared by the woman then, all the past deliveries were through c-section and the last one was just one year ago.
“So there was no chance for a normal delivery in her case. She was scared to talk to us even if we called her over phone. Nayaz said he wanted a normal delivery and insulted the entire medical system in the state.”
The husband even claimed that they were planning to have a normal delivery, drawing lessons from YouTube, Ms Deepika alleged.
An elderly woman from the neighbourhood also raised serious charges against Nayaz and accused him of denying treatment to Ms Shemeera.
“She was not allowed to talk to us. She never came out of home alone,” said the woman.
“When we advised him to give proper treatment to the pregnant woman, he said it was his wife and there was no need for others to worry about her health.”
Police said the interrogation of Nayaz is going on and further action would be taken after collecting details.
State Health Minister Veena George said that stringent legal action would be taken against all responsible for the death of the mother and child, and that the incident will be considered an act of homicide.
Indo-Asian News Service
