Pregnant wife hacked to death with a sickle as son, 5, contradicts dad’s story | World | News

The son of a pregnant woman who was hacked to death with a gardening tool in India exposed his father as the alleged perpetrator. Manisha Mansuri, 32, tragically died while eight months pregnant after allegedly being attacked with a sickle – a sharply curved blade used to cut grass – by her drunk husband in the Mahoba district.

Her husband called police to claim an unidentified person had killed his wife, though his five-year-old son’s interview placed the dad as the perpetrator, having witnessed the alleged attack. The accused, Hanif, 35, was taken into custody following his son’s version of events and contradictory police questioning.

Police said Hanif, who lived in Bijrari village with his wife and their two children, allegedly returned home heavily intoxicated and began arguing with his wife over an issue late on Saturday.

When Manisha objected, he allegedly repeatedly attacked her on the head and neck with a sickle that killed her on the spot. After the alleged incident, Hanif called emegergency services and claimed that an unknown person had killed his wife.

Station House Officer Praveen Kumar Singh went to the house to begin the investigation, during which the couple’s son told his version of events.

Rafiq Mansuri, the deceased’s brother, said Manisha had been subjected to continuous harassment over dowry demands and his alcohol addiction since marrying Hanif in 2021.

He alleged that Hanif had sold a large portion of land to fund his drinking habit and that Manisha had had to stay at her parental home for nine months after the family had lodged a case against her husband in 2024.

She returned to her matrimonial home after assurances of reform, but her husband’s violent behaviour allegedly continued. Villagers said most people kept their distance from Hanif, describing him as erratic and quarrelsome.

Circle Officer Kulpahar Anurudh Singh said the accused had been taken into custody and the body sent for postmortem.

The officer said: “Further strict legal action is being taken on the basis of forensic evidence and the post-mortem report,” reports the Times of India.