Post News Network
Khariar, March 28: In a shocking incident, a tribal woman, who lost her husband about four years ago, was not allowed to enter her in-laws’ house in Bendrabahal under this block in Nuapada district and was ostracised by the villagers after she delivered a baby boy recently.
The 40-year-old woman returned to her in-laws’ house Friday after delivering the baby at the district headquarters hospital about a month ago. As her in-laws refused to accept her, the woman along with her child took shelter at a Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra at Bargaon Friday night.
On being informed, Integrated Child Development Scheme officials reached the Seva Kendra Saturday and took the woman and her child into their custody. The duo was later sent to a shelter home for women at Komna. The incident has sent shock waves in the area as it is heard that the leader of a national political party has been responsible for the woman’s condition. As he is an influential person, the woman has not approached the police for justice.
According to sources, the woman had been working as a domestic help in the political leader’s house following her husband’s death about four years ago. During her stay in the political leader’s house, he allegedly kept physical relationship with then woman and impregnated her.
After the woman’s in-laws came to know about her pregnancy, they convened meetings over the issue on several occasions. Though the woman did not mention anybody’s name in the meetings, her evasive answer to the cause of her pregnancy pointed figures towards the political leader.
The woman gave birth to a baby at the district headquarters hospital February 28. After staying at the hospital for about a month, she returned to her village Friday.
Meanwhile, in a surprise development, the name of the child’s father has been mentioned as Trinath Shabar in the register of the village Anganwadi Centre. Though Trinath has pleaded innocence in the matter, his name in the register is apparently an attempt to create confusion and save the political leader, sources said. Khariar ICDS observer Basanti Purti said there has been a threat to the woman’s life ever since she became pregnant.
