Cuttack: In a disturbing display of entrenched preference for son in rural Odisha, a young couple was allegedly assaulted by the husband’s family members after the wife gave birth to twin daughters at Pasulunda village under Mahanga police limits in Cuttack district.
According to sources, Parbati Jena, wife of Chandrasekhar Jena, gave birth to twin girls about a month ago. Her in-laws, who had been expecting a male heir from their only son, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the arrival of the girls and began subjecting Parbati to both mental harassment and physical abuse.
The situation escalated a few days ago when an argument over the newborns turned violent. Family members, including the father-in-law, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law, allegedly thrashed Parbati. When Chandrasekhar attempted to protect his wife, he too was beaten, reportedly in full public view. A video of the assault soon circulated widely on social media, sparking outrage.
The victims have lodged a formal complaint at Mahanga police station.
While police have initiated an investigation into the allegations of assault, Chandrasekhar and Parbati, along with their newborns, are currently residing at the woman’s parental home for safety.
