The man, identified as Pannalal,43, attacked his wife Anita Devi, 35, with a sharp-edged weapon on Saturday night , September 19, at their home in Budaun in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, The Times of India reported.

She was rushed to a Bareilly hospital in a serious condition. Her baby in the womb was unhurt, but Anita’s condition deteriorated due to severe damage and excessive bleeding from the attack.

Confirming the attack,  Civil Lines Police Station SHO, Sudhakar Pandey said the man got into an argument with his wife who is six to seven months pregnant over fear that their next child would also be a girl.

“A priest had predicted that their sixth child would also be a girl. Pannalal then attacked Anita with a sickle on her abdomen to kill the fetus after she refused to have an abortion.”

Their neighbors arrived at the scene and rushed Anita to the district hospital, the police said.

The SHO told the publication that the woman’s husband has been detained over the attack.

“We have detained the accused and he is being questioned,” Sudhakar said while adding that they are waiting for a written complaint from the woman’s family to register a case.

Anita’s younger brother, Ravi Kumar said, “My brother-in-law used to beat up my sister often for giving birth to five daughters. Even my parents tried to resolve the problem, but no one had ever imagined that he would take such a cruel step.”

It was later discovered that the child was a baby boy.