Quick Summary
- A 60-year-old quack named G. Sugumar from Tirupattur was arrested for running an illegal sex determination test center in Elaruvi village near Tirupattur town.
- Special police teams were formed upon an alert to Tirupattur SP V.Shyamala Devi to investigate illegal sex determination practices in the district.
- Eight expectant mothers traveling in an autorickshaw were intercepted by the police; they had paid ₹15,000-₹20,000 for sex determination tests and ₹25,000-₹30,000 for abortions.
- Based on inputs from the intercepted women, five agents connected to the illegal clinic were arrested from their hideouts in Tirupattur town.
- Quack Sugumar was initially on the run; however, his location was tracked using mobile phone signals and he was eventually apprehended at his illegal center rented in a remote village to evade authorities.
- Police have registered a case under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT Act), 1994, and Sugumar is now lodged in sub-jail at Tirupattur town as investigations continue.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The arrest of G. Sugumar highlights ongoing violations of laws aimed at curbing prenatal sex determination-a practice often associated with gender-based discrimination and female infanticide across parts of India despite stringent legal frameworks such as the PCPNDT Act of 1994. This incident not only signifies failures in enforcement but also underscores societal pressures that drive gender-biased prenatal choices among families-especially rural populations vulnerable due to lack of awareness or access to healthcare facilities.
The deployment of special police teams indicates improving local vigilance against such violations while also exposing how perpetrators exploit remote locations and informal networks to evade detection. Moving forward,sustained efforts combining legal action with awareness campaigns are essential both for stricter implementation of existing laws and addressing cultural biases fueling demand for these services.
For more details: Read More