Woman detained in protest ‘suffers miscarriage’ in Jharkhand; Adivasi groups allege mistreatment, jail authorities dismiss pregnancy claims

The woman, identified as Tulsi Purty, was among the six women detained on October 27 during a protest demanding enforcement of a “no-entry” rule for mining and other heavy vehicles in the village. Sixteen people – six women and 10 men — were arrested and sent to judicial custody for allegedly pelting police personnel with stones during the agitation.

According to sources, Purty’s health deteriorated inside the jail following which she was taken to a hospital where doctors induced delivery of the foetus. She was later sent back to jail.

When The Indian Express accessed the village Anganwadi register, Purty’s name was found in it. A sevika at the Anganwadi, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have maintained a diary where we record details of newly pregnant women in the village. Although I do not know under what circumstances she was detained, she was indeed pregnant at the time.”

Adivasi groups in Chaibasa have alleged that the miscarriage occurred due to police violence during her arrest. They have demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident and action against those responsible.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Zilla Parishad member Madhav Chandra Kunkal, who was among those arrested during the protest and later released on bail, said that while details remain unclear, the matter is serious and warrants investigation. “If a pregnant woman has been kept in jail and she suffered a miscarriage due to mental stress or any kind of mistreatment, it must be investigated. Even mental pressure inside jail can lead to such an incident,” he said, adding that he has demanded a fair probe into the matter from the district administration.

When contacted, Chaibasa Jail Superintendent Sunil Kumar denied reports of any woman prisoner being pregnant or suffering a miscarriage. “As per jail protocol, pregnancy tests were conducted on all six women who were brought in that day. Each of the results had come back negative,” Kumar said.

“At present, there is no pregnant woman in Chaibasa jail,” he said, adding that the jail has not received any medical report or complaint regarding such an incident.

According to an official in the district, an FIR was registered at the Mufassil police station against 74 named and around 500 unidentified individuals when the October 27 protest escalated after demonstrators reportedly tried to surround the residence of Transport Minister Deepak Birua, leading to a clash during which police personnel were pelted with stones.

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