Indian-origin Pregnant Woman Killed by Former Partner in Crossbow Attack in London

A 35-year-old pregnant Indian-origin woman was killed after an arrow went through her abdomen in a crossbow attack by her former partner on Nov. 12 in London.

According to reports, Devi Unmathallegadoo’s unborn baby survived after an emergency Caesarean section and is battling for his life in a London hospital. The incident happened east London’s Ilford area, PTI reported.

The Metropolitan Police said in a release that they have charged Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 50, of no fixed abode, with the murder of Devi, who is believed to be his former partner. “The victim was found suffering an abdominal injury. She was taken to hospital where she later died,” the Metropolitan Police said in its release.

The police said in its release that Ramanodge was presented before Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Nov. 13, which remanded him in custody. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Nov. 15.

“This is a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends of the victim,” Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes of the Met Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, which is leading the murder investigation, said.

Devi was also known as Sana Muhammad after reportedly converting to Islam when she married her husband Imtiaz Muhammad around seven years ago, the news agency added.

According to PTI, Devi had three children, aged 18, 14, and 12, with her former partner and two young girls, aged five and two, with Muhammad. The baby boy who was born as a result of an emergency Caesarean operation on Nov. 12, has been named Ibrahim by Imtiaz. “She was a wonderful mother and wife. We were together for seven years. I am heartbroken; we were inseparable,” PTI quoted Imtiaz Muhammad as telling to Evening Standard’ newspaper.

Imtiaz, 42, was home when he saw the attacker in their shed with a loaded crossbow. He immediately rushed back to alert his wife and children, but she was shot with the arrow in her abdomen soon after, PTI reported.  “The arrow went up into her heart but did not touch the unborn baby. The baby was due in four weeks. They operated with the arrow still in because it would have been too dangerous to take out,” the news agency quoted him as saying.