A Barrackpore woman who was chopped by a male relative on Friday night is likely to lose the use of her right hand because of the severity of the chops she suffered.
Investigators said yesterday that Savitri Lalman, 35, of Cunjal Road, Barrackpore, was still listed in critical condition at hospital. Lalman suffered chops to her right hand, abdomen and head during an attack by a male relative around 8.30 pm on Friday.
The 26-year-old suspect, who ingested a poisonous substance after the attack, is also warded under police guard at the same hospital.
Savitri’s father Lalman Jaggernauth, 68, who tried to save his daughter from the brutal chops, has been discharged from the hospital, having been treated for wounds to his right hand and left shoulder.
Also discharged was Lalman’s 17-year-old daughter Reena Straughn, who suffered chop wounds to the left side of her head and left hand.
Police said Lalman’s 15-year-old son and his one-year-old sister, who survived the cutlass attack, have been staying with relatives. The other members of the family have been interviewed by the Gender-Based and Domestic Violence Unit.
Meanwhile, a former consultant at the Children’s Authority, Dr Safeeya Mohammed, has called for counselling for the family. In a Facebook post, Mohammed wrote, “We have failed this family, especially these children who witnessed such horrific events and now traumatised for life. I pray for their healing. This 15-year-old young man who secured his one-year-old sister from being maimed and chopped! Violence, especially GBV, is such a cowardly behaviour, one that must never be condoned. It is inexcusable and unacceptable.”
She said citizens must do more to prevent gender-based violence caused by overwhelming negative cultural norms and biases that are just so deeply entrenched.
She noted, “Many abusers may seem absolutely perfect on the surface — as if they are the dream partner — in the early stages of a relationship. Possessive and controlling behaviours don’t always appear overnight, but rather emerge and intensify as the relationship grows. She said abusers must be put behind bars and listed a list of controlling behaviours that people should look out for.”
Meanwhile, police said they will charge the suspect once he is discharged from the hospital.
Cpl Mohammed of the Barrackpore Police Station is continuing investigations.
List of controlling behaviours
Embarrassing or putting you down
Disrespectful name-calling.
Controlling who you see, where you go, or what you do
Controlling your social media activity, dictating who you can interact with.
Discouraging you from seeing your friends or families
Preventing you from making your own decisions
Preventing you from working or attending school or pursuing your goals and dreams
Blaming you for the abuse, or acting like it’s not happening.
Intimidating you with emotional threats of withdrawal of financial support
Pressuring you to have sex when you don’t want to or do things sexually you’re not comfortable with.
