Bali´s husband Hum Bahadur Bali said when they came to know that they were about to have another daughter, they went to abort the female foetus as they already have three daughters aged 8, 6 and 4 years. [break]
The couple initially went to Butwal to get the abortion done but was declined as Bali had passed her safe period for abortion. They finally approached Annapurna on Thursday and were assured by Ramesh Dhakal and Gita Dhakal, the owners of the medical centre, that they can abort the foetus as they have done so in the past.
On being admitted, the clinic called in Madan KC, an Assistant Health Worker from the nearby medical centre to assist in the abortion. But when the abortion was unsuccessful, the clinic officials informed the family that she would not be cured at the medical centre and she needs to be taken to Nepalgunj. When Bali died on the way to Nepalgunj in the ambulance, Hem Bahadur filed a complaint with the police against the owners of the clinic, stating that his wife died due to their carelessness.
According to Police Inspector Jeevan Budathoki of Tulipur Police, Gita and KC are both on the run and Annapurna Medical is currently shut. The police, however, have arrested Ramesh. Budathoki informed that both absconders´ mobile phones are switched off and it is likely that the medical centre did not have permission to carry out abortions.
According to the District Public Health Office, only Nepal Family Planning Centers, Mary Stopes Centers, Rapti Zone Hospital and Sub-Regional Hospital in Dhorahi, have permission to perform abortions in Dang.
The Nepal government had passed a bill that legalized abortion within 12-14 weeks of pregnancy. However, the government has given permission only to those organizations to carry out abortions, which are well-equipped to carry out the procedure.
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