A doctor posted at a government hospital in Siwan has been accused of harassing his wife for giving birth to a girl child.

P.G. Nisha, a resident of Bhikhanpura village in Vaishali, lodged an FIR with the Chandpura police outpost on Wednesday alleging that she was subjected to physical harassment by her husband for giving birth to the girl child.

At present, Nisha’s husband, Pawan Kumar, is posted at Darauda block hospital in the district. Nisha, who was married to Pawan on March 6, 2011, alleged that her husband exerted pressure on her to abort the baby soon after he came to know that she was about to deliver a girl child.

Pawan, an MBBS from Patna Medical College and Hospital, was not available for comment.

According to the complaint, Pawan admitted his wife to a Hajipur-based private nursing home and allegedly used his influence to ascertain the sex of the foetus through ultrasound tests.

She said she gave birth to a baby last year against her husband’s wishes. “When he came to know that I have given birth to a girl, he not only hurled abuses at me over the phone but also threatened me with dire consequences,” she said, adding that her husband didn’t bother to even see the baby.

Nisha’s father, Prabhat Kumar, a branch postmaster at Murauwatpur in Vaishali, said he approached Mahnar sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Kamini Bala on July 31 after his daughter was allegedly beaten up by her husband at their house at Chhoti Madai in Hajipur town.

The SDPO summoned the couple to her office for counselling. The doctor pledged not to harass his wife and signed a bond. “He started torturing her again. She was confined to a room and brutally assaulted. Apprehending threat to her life, I took my daughter to my house on August 5 and later reported the matter to the police,” Prabhat added.

Prabhat alleged that Pawan also tried to marry for the second time despite his first wife being alive.

Chandpura police outpost station house officer (SHO) Lalan Prasad Choudhary said a case has been lodged against Pawan under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 494 (marrying again during lifetime of husband/wife) and 498 (dowry) of the Indian Penal Code. His father Jai Nandan Singh, mother Saroj Singh and sister Mamta have also been made accused in the case, he added.

The SHO said prima facie, the allegations appeared to be true. “Since the allegations have been levelled against a public servant, we want to verify them first and then initiate action,” the SHO said over the phone on Thursday.