Indian doctors, woman indicted in US genital mutilation case

An India-born doctor and his wife along with another Indian-origin woman doctor have been indicted by a grand jury in the US for allegedly performing genital mutilation on two girls, in a first-of-its kind federal prosecution in the country.

Fakhruddin Attar, 53, his wife, Farida Attar, 50, both from Michigan state, were yesterday charged with conspiring to perform female genital mutilations (FGM) on minor girls out of Attar's medical clinic in Livonia. The Attars were arrested on April 21.

They were charged with helping another Indian-origin doctor Jumana Nagarwala, 44, of Michigan, in performing genital mutilation on two 7-year-old girls in February at a clinic owned by Fakhruddin.

The federal indictment alleges the trio also tried to obstruct the investigation by telling other people to make false statement to authorities. The doctors are also accused of lying to investigators.

Unless they work out a plea deal, the three accused are headed to trial now, Detroit Free Press reported.